22.03.2013 Views

The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

wool-gathering: <strong>The</strong> absent-minded pr<strong>of</strong>essor delivered his<br />

lecture to an empty lecture hall.<br />

absolute adj. 1 perfect, complete, total, finished, thorough,<br />

through-and-through, consummate, flawless, faultless,<br />

unadulterated, pure, unmixed, unalloyed, undiluted; rank: Alan<br />

behaved like an absolute gentleman. 2 complete, outright,<br />

downright, genuine, real, pure, out-and-out, transparent,<br />

unmitigated, categorical, unqualified, unconditional, utter,<br />

veritable, unconditioned: Peace is an absolute requirement for<br />

prosperity. 3 unrestricted, unrestrained, unconstrained,<br />

unlimited, unmitigated, arbitrary, despotic, dictatorial,<br />

totalitarian, supreme, almighty, arbitrary, autocratic,<br />

tyrannical: <strong>The</strong> days <strong>of</strong> absolute monarchy are numbered. 4<br />

positive, certain, sure, unambiguous, unquestionable,<br />

authoritative, verifiable, uncompromised: Few intelligent<br />

people would claim absolute knowledge <strong>of</strong> anything.<br />

absolutely<br />

adv. 1 unqualifiedly, unconditionally, unreservedly,<br />

unexceptionally, unequivocally, unquestionably, positively,<br />

definitely, really, genuinely, decidedly, surely, truly,<br />

certainly, categorically: She is absolutely the best dancer I<br />

have ever seen. I absolutely refuse to go. 2 totally, utterly,<br />

completely, entirely, fully, quite, altogether, wholly: It is<br />

absolutely necessary that you undergo surgery.<br />

--interj. 3 certainly, assuredly, positively, definitely, <strong>of</strong><br />

course, naturally, indubitably, yes, to be sure: 'Are you sure<br />

you want to go?' 'Absolutely!'<br />

absorbed adj. engrossed, lost, wrapped up, occupied, engaged, immersed,<br />

buried, preoccupied, concentrating, rapt: He was absorbed in<br />

his reading.<br />

absorbing adj. engrossing, engaging, riveting, captivating, fascinating,<br />

spellbinding, gripping: Maria was watching an absorbing<br />

thriller on television.<br />

abstract adj. 1 theoretical, unapplied, notional, ideational,<br />

conceptual, metaphysical, unpractical, intellectual: It is<br />

difficult to capture abstract ideas on paper. 2<br />

non-representational, symbolic, non-realistic: Museums began

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!