absolutism

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English

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Etymology

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First attested in 1753 (in the theological sense); attested in 1830 in the political sense. From absolute +‎ -ism, based after French absolutisme.[1]

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈæb.sə.luː.tɪz.m̩/, /ˈæb.sə.ljuː.tɪz.m̩/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈæb.səˌluˌtɪz.m̩/, /ˈæb.səˌljuˌtɪz.m̩/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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absolutism (countable and uncountable, plural absolutisms)

  1. (theology) Doctrine of preordination; doctrine of absolute decrees; doctrine that God acts in an absolute manner. [First attested in the mid 18th century.][1]
  2. (political science, sociology) The principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; Synonym of despotism. [First attested in the early 19th century.][1]
    Hyponyms: absolute monarchy, benevolent absolutism, enlightened absolutism, enlightened despotism
    • 1859, John Gorham Palfrey, chapter IV, in History of New England, volume I, page 217:
      The element of absolutism and prelacy was more controlling in the counsels of the rival corporation.
    • 2019, John Gascoigne, Science and the State, page 54:
      As absolutism became more consolidated in Europe, and particularly in France, such nonabsolutist states tended to define themselves in opposition to their absolutist rivals: hence, those features of their government which differed from absolutism tended to be given special prominence.
  3. (philosophy) Belief in a metaphysical absolute; belief in Absolute. [First attested in the late 19th century.][1]
  4. Positiveness; the state of being absolute.
    Hyponym: Meiklejohnian absolutism
  5. (rare) The characteristic of being absolute in nature or scope; absoluteness.
    • 2003, Ruth R. Wisse, The Modern Jewish Canon: A Journey Through Language, →ISBN:
      It was the absolutism of his ambition to be a perfect writer (and perhaps also the perfect son) that imperiled him.

Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “absolutism”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 9.

Further reading

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French absolutisme. By surface analysis, absolut +‎ -ism.

Noun

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absolutism n (uncountable)

  1. absolutism

Declension

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Swedish

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Etymology

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absolut +‎ -ism

Noun

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absolutism c (uncountable)

  1. absolute monarchy (as a form of government), dictatorship
  2. the principle of abstaining from alcohol

Declension

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See also

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References

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