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absent - 5 dictionary results
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ab⋅sent

  [adj., prep. ab-suhnt; v. ab-sent, ab-suhnt]
Use absent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not in a certain place at a given time; away, missing (opposed to present ): absent from class.
2. lacking; nonexistent: Revenge is absent from his mind.
3. not attentive; preoccupied; absent-minded: an absent look on his face.
–verb (used with object)
4. to take or keep (oneself) away: to absent oneself from a meeting.
–preposition
5. in the absence of; without: Absent some catastrophe, stock-market prices should soon improve.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L absent- (s. of absēns, prp. of abesse to be away (ab- ab- + -s- be (see is ) + -ent- -ent ))

Related forms:
ab⋅sen⋅ta⋅tion  [ab-suhn-tey-shuhn] , noun
ab⋅sent⋅er, noun
ab⋅sent⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. out, off.

Antonyms:
1. present.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To absent
ab·sent   (āb'sənt)   
adj.  
  1. Not present; missing: absent friends; absent parents.
  2. Not existent; lacking: a country in which morality is absent.
  3. Exhibiting or feeling inattentiveness: an absent nod.
tr.v.   (āb-sěnt') ab·sent·ed, ab·sent·ing, ab·sents
To keep (oneself) away: They absented themselves from the debate.
prep.  Without: "Absent a legislative fix, this is an invitation for years of litigation" (Brian E. O'Neill).

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin absēns, absent-, present participle of abesse, to be away : ab-, away; see ab-1 + esse, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots.]
ab'sent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Absent

Ab"sent\, a. [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth.]

1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. "Expecting absent friends." --Shak.

2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent.

3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air.

What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man. --Chesterfield.

Syn: Absent, Abstracted.

Usage: These words both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association.

Absent

Ab*sent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absented; p. pr. & vb. n. Absenting.] [Cf. F. absenter.]

1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun.

If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined. --Addison.

2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] "Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more." --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : absent
Spanish: ausente,
German: abwesend,
Japanese: 欠席の
More Translations »

absent  (adj.)
1382, from M.Fr. absent (O.Fr. ausent), from L. absentem (see absence). Absent-minded "preoccupied" is first recorded 1854. absent (v.) "keep away" is c.1400, from M.Fr. absenter, from L.L. absentare "cause to be away," from L. absentem.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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