absolutism

C2+ Topic:Law & Government

US /ˈæbsəluˌtɪzəm/ UK /ˈæbsəluːtɪzəm/ See IPA manual

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the principle or system of... autocracy despotismauthoritarianismtyranny dictatorshiptotalitarianism

Opposites

democracy liberalismrelativismconstitutionalism

Word family

Derived forms absolutist

Related forms absolute absolutely

Etymology

From absolute + -ism, from Latin absolūtus ('unrestricted, complete'), past participle of absolvere ('to set free'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen').

absolūtus Latin solvere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Law & Government Word Formation & Derivatives

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# absolutism

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈæbsəluˌtɪzəm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈæbsəluːtɪzəm/

## Meanings
1. the principle or system of absolute, unlimited governmental or moral authority

## Examples
- The revolution erupted in reaction to centuries of royal absolutism.

## Synonyms
- autocracy
- despotism
- authoritarianism
- tyranny
- dictatorship
- totalitarianism

## Antonyms
- democracy
- liberalism
- relativism
- constitutionalism

## Derived Forms
- absolutist

## Related Forms
- absolute
- absolutely

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: absolūtus
- Root: solvere

## Etymology
From absolute + -ism, from Latin absolūtus ('unrestricted, complete'), past participle of absolvere ('to set free'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen').

## AI Etymology
Absolutism is a noun meaning "the principle or system of absolute, unlimited governmental or moral authority". Historically, it is from absolute + -ism, from Latin absolūtus ('unrestricted, complete'), past participle of absolvere ('to set free'), from ab- ('away') + solvere ('to loosen'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: absolutism is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "the principle or system of absolute, unlimited governmental or moral authority", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Latin absolūtus with Latin solvere. Close English family members include absolutist, absolute, and absolutely.

## Topics
- Law & Government
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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absolutism

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