absolu
French
Etymology
Inherited from Middle French absolut, replaced earlier asolu (c. 1100), from Latin absolūtus (“unconditional”), perfect passive participle of absolvō (“loosen, free; complete”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ap.sɔ.ly/
Audio: (file) Audio (Canada (Shawinigan)): (file) Audio (Switzerland (Valais)): (file) Audio (France (Toulouse)): (file) Audio (France (Vosges)): (file) Audio (France): (file) Audio (France (Vosges)): (file) Audio (France (Saint-Étienne)): (file) Audio (France (Lyon)): (file) Audio (France (Somain)): (file) - Homophones: absolue, absolues, absolus, absolut, absolût
Adjective
absolu (feminine absolue, masculine plural absolus, feminine plural absolues)
- absolute
- Coordinate term: relatif
- oreille absolue ― absolute pitch, perfect pitch
- (grammar) absolute
- ablatif absolu ― ablative absolute
- accusatif absolu ― accusative absolute
- génitif absolu ― genitive absolute
- nominatif absolu ― nominative absolute
- emploi absolu ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Derived terms
Noun
absolu m (countable and uncountable, plural absolus)
- absolute (that which exists independent of references to other standards or external conditions; that which is universally valid; that which is not relative, conditional, qualified or mitigated; that which is complete in itself; that which is perfect)
- en quête d'absolu ― seeking perfection
- dans l'absolu ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
Descendants
- → Romanian: absolut
Further reading
- “absolu”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012