absent
1ab·sent
adj \ˈab-sənt\Definition of ABSENT
1
: not present or attending : missing
2
: not existing : lacking <danger in a situation where power is absent — M. H. Trytten>
3
: lost in thought : not attentive
— ab·sent·ly adverb
See Examples of ABSENT
- an absent father who is not home most of the time
- a gene that occurs in mammals but that is absent in birds
- a landscape in which vegetation is almost entirely absent
- He made an absent reply to her question as he continued to watch the TV.
Origin of ABSENT
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin absent-, absens, present participle of abesse to be absent, from ab- + esse to be — more at is
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to ABSENT
See Synonym Discussion at abstracted
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