erroneous forms due to a confusion between ABSOLUTE and OBSOLETE, which latter frequently appears as absolute even in good writers of 6–7, while absolute was similarly transformed into obsolute. The confusion was partly due to form, partly to sense 4 of ABSOLUTE, completed, finished; hence, by easy transition, done with.
a. 1500. Sq. of Lowe Degre, 630, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 47. They called hym knyght absolent.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. I. i. Their medicines absolete, and now most part rejected.
1640. Wilkins, Disc. concg. New Planet (1684), II. 3. To think everything that is antient to be absolute.
1642. Howell, For. Trav., 44. Or they are some absolet peeces reflecting happily upon the times of Cosmo de Medici.
1660. Stillingfleet, Irenicum (1662), I. vi. § 6. 121. Either in reviving absolete customes, or imposing new.
1679. Oates, Myst. Iniq., 10. These … labour to reduce their Society to an obsolute Monarchy.
1687. Settle, Reflect. on Dryden’s Plays, 7. How many times he uses that damn’d canting absolete word [Host] for Army in one Play.
