absent

Definition of absent

Etymology 1

From Middle French absent < Old French ausent < Latin absent-, the stem of absens, present participle of abesse ("to be away from"), formed from ab + esse ("to be").

Pronunciation

• (RP, US) enPR: ăb'sənt, IPA: /ˈæb.sənt/, SAMPA: /{b.s@nt/
• Audio (US) ^[?]

Adjective

absent (not comparable)

1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present.
   
   * 1623, Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well, II-iii
   Expecting absent friends.
   
   
2. Not existing; lacking.
   
   The part was rudimental or absent.
   
   
3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.
   
   * 1746-1747, Chesterfield, Letters to his Son
   What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man.

Antonyms

• present

Related terms

• absence
• absentee
• absenteeism

Etymology 2

From Latin absente ("being absent")

Preposition

absent

1. without
   
   The gross value represents returns absent both taxation and interest on the investment's cash component.
   
   * 1919, State vs. Britt, Supreme Court of Missouri, Division 2, in The Southwestern Reporter, page 427
   If 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.

Etymology 3

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

Pronunciation

• (RP, US) enPR: ăbsĕnt', IPA: /æbˈsɛnt/, SAMPA: {b"sEnt

Verb

to absent (third-person singular simple present absents, present participle absenting, simple past and past participle absented)

1. (transitive, with reflexive pronoun) To go away from a place; to leave.
   
   * Addison - If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined.
   
   
2. (transitive, obsolete) To withhold from being present
   
   * 1851, John Milton, The Paradise Lost - Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more.

Anagrams

• Alphagram: abenst
• abnets

Translation of absent in Malay

Adjective

being away from a place; not present

1. absen
2. tidak hadir