Absent

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈæb.snÌ©t/
• US IPA: /ˈæb.snÌ©t/, enPR: ăb'sÉ™nt

Alternative forms

• abs.

• From Middle English absent, Middle French absent, from Old French ausent, and their source, Latin absens, present participle of abesse ("to be away from"), from ab ("away") + esse ("to be").

Full definition of absent

Adjective

1. (not comparable) Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing. First attested around 1350 to 1470.

• 1623, William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well, II-iiiExpecting absent friends.
1. (not comparable) Not existing; lacking. First attested around 1350 to 1470.The part was rudimental or absent.
2. (sometimes comparable) Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied. First attested in the early 18^th century.
• 1746-1747, Chesterfield, Letters to his SonWhat is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man.

Antonyms

• present

Related terms

• absence
• absentee
• absenteeism

Noun

1. (obsolete) Absentee; a person who is away on occasion. Attested from around 1350 to 1470 until the early 19^th century.

Preposition

1. (legal) In the absence of; without. First attested in the mid 20^th century.
• 1919, State vs. Britt, Supreme Court of Missouri, Division 2, in The Southwestern Reporter, page 427If the accused refuse upon demand to pay money or deliver property (absent any excuse or excusing circumstance) which came into his hands as a bailee, such refusal might well constitute some evidence of conversion, with the requisite fraudulent intent required by the statute.
• 2011, David Elstein, letter, London Review of Books, XXXIII.15:the Princess Caroline case ... established that – absent a measurable ‘public interest’ in publication – she was safe from being photographed while out shopping.

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /æbˈsÉ›nt/, enPR: ăbsÄ•nt'
• US IPA: /æbˈsÉ›nt/

From Old French absenter, from Late Latin absentare ("keep away, be away").

Verb

1. (transitive, now reflexive) Keep away; stay away; go away. First attested around 1350 to 1470.
• Milton Lost|IXGo; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
• 1701-1703, Joseph Addison, "Remarks on Italy"If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined.
• Orwell Animal Farm|6This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.
2. (intransitive, obsolete) Stay away; withdraw. Attested from around 1350 to 1470 until the late 18^th century.
3. (transitive, rare) Leave. First attested around 1350 to 1470.

Anagrams

• abnets