Space \Space\ (sp[=a]s), n. [OE. space, F. espace, from L.
spatium space; cf. Gr. spa^n to draw, to tear; perh. akin to
E. span. Cf. Expatiate.]
1. Extension, considered independently of anything which it
may contain; that which makes extended objects conceivable
and possible.
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Pure space is capable neither of resistance nor
motion. --Locke.
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2. Place, having more or less extension; room.
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They gave him chase, and hunted him as hare;
Long had he no space to dwell [in]. --R. of
Brunne.
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While I have time and space. --Chaucer.
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3. A quantity or portion of extension; distance from one
thing to another; an interval between any two or more
objects; as, the space between two stars or two hills; the
sound was heard for the space of a mile.
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Put a space betwixt drove and drove. --Gen. xxxii.
16.
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4. Quantity of time; an interval between two points of time;
duration; time. "Grace God gave him here, this land to
keep long space." --R. of brunne.
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Nine times the space that measures day and night.
--Milton.
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God may defer his judgments for a time, and give a
people a longer space of repentance. --Tillotson.
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5. A short time; a while. [R.] "To stay your deadly strife a
space." --Spenser.
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6. Walk; track; path; course. [Obs.]
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This ilke [same] monk let old things pace,
And held after the new world the space. --Chaucer.
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7. (Print.)
(a) A small piece of metal cast lower than a face type, so
as not to receive the ink in printing, -- used to
separate words or letters.
(b) The distance or interval between words or letters in
the lines, or between lines, as in books, on a
computer screen, etc.
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Note: Spaces are of different thicknesses to enable the
compositor to arrange the words at equal distances from
each other in the same line.
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8. (Mus.) One of the intervals, or open places, between the
lines of the staff.
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9. that portion of the universe outside the earth or its
atmosphere; -- called also outer space.
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Absolute space, Euclidian space, etc. See under
Absolute, Euclidian, etc.
deep space, the part of outer space which is beyond the
limits of the solar system.
Space line (Print.), a thin piece of metal used by printers
to open the lines of type to a regular distance from each
other, and for other purposes; a lead. --Hansard.
Space rule (Print.), a fine, thin, short metal rule of the
same height as the type, used in printing short lines in
tabular matter.
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Absolute \Ab"so*lute\, a. [L. absolutus, p. p. of absolvere: cf.
F. absolu. See Absolve.]
1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled;
unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority,
monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command;
absolute power; an absolute monarch.
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2. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as,
absolute perfection; absolute beauty.
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So absolute she seems,
And in herself complete. --Milton.
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3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without
comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to
relative and comparative; as, absolute motion;
absolute time or space.
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Note: Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man
in a state of nature as contradistinguished from
relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him
in his social relations.
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4. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other
being; self-existent; self-sufficing.
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Note: In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist.
The term is also applied by the Pantheist to the
universe, or the total of all existence, as only
capable of relations in its parts to each other and to
the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its
phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their
laws.
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5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone;
unconditioned; non-relative.
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Note: It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in
this sense, is not applied to a mere logical fiction or
abstraction, or whether the absolute, as thus defined,
can be known, as a reality, by the human intellect.
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To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word
and thing, the recent philosophy of the absolute.
--Sir W.
Hamilton.
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6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.]
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I am absolute 't was very Cloten. --Shak.
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7. Authoritative; peremptory. [R.]
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The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head,
With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed. --Mrs.
Browning.
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8. (Chem.) Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol.
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9. (Gram.) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of
the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See
Ablative absolute, under Ablative.
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Absolute curvature (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of
double curvature, which is measured in the osculating
plane of the curve.
Absolute equation (Astron.), the sum of the optic and
eccentric equations.
Absolute space (Physics), space considered without relation
to material limits or objects.
Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not
contain the unknown quantity. --Davies & Peck.
Absolute temperature (Physics), the temperature as measured
on a scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic
principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero.
Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in
the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to
-273[deg] centigrade or -459.4[deg] Fahrenheit.
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Syn: Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited;
unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic;
autocratic.
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