A time relative to a selected previous time from which the time scale (or measurement of time) begins. For example, if you want to start a batch job using absolute time and the time scale begins at midnight, specifying an absolute time of 07:00 would mean that the batch job runs at 7 a.m. If the timescale begins at 9 a.m. with an absolute time of 07:00, the batch job would run at 4 p.m.