Etymologically
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absence

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 13:48. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ap.sɑ̃s/[1]

Forms

absence f (plural absences)[1] Older apsence (1308), aucence (1318).[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin absentia (“absence”), used by Cicero for a person's not being present.[3][2][4][5] The Latin noun comes from absēns (“absent”), present participle of absum (“to be away”), from ab (“away from”) and sum (“to be”).[1] The Romance cognates include Old Occitan absensa, Italian assenza and Spanish ausencia.[3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Les Sept Sages (early 13th century) have it for a person's not being present: quelque chose que la dame feist en l'absence de son seigneur “whatever the lady did in her lord's absence”.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

In 1307 it was a legal term for failure to appear in court, a use found in Carolingian Latin; in 1322 it meant the lack of a thing, after Quintilian.[3] En l'absence de (1393, en absence de, 1378) first meant “for want of”, then “while (someone) is away”.[2] In classical and literary French it is the separation from a loved one, le moins clément de tous les maux for Verlaine.[5][7]

Une absence, a momentary lapse of attention or consciousness (1680), probably comes from absence d'esprit (1671); in psychopathology it is a brief loss of consciousness (20th century).[2][8] Briller par son absence is said ironically of a conspicuous absence.[7]

Timeline

  • early 13th century – A person's not being present, in Les Sept Sages.[3]
  • 1307 – Failure to appear in court.[3]
  • 1322 – The lack of a thing.[3]
  • 1378 – En absence de.[2]
  • 1671 – Absence d'esprit.[2]
  • 1680 – A lapse of attention.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Absence, the fact of not being where one could or should be: briller par son absence.[7][1]
  2. Separation from a loved one; the time someone is away.[7][5]
  3. (law) The legal status of a person who has disappeared and not been heard of for a set time.[7]
  4. Lack, want, en l'absence de, in the absence of.[3][2][5]
  5. A momentary lapse of attention or memory, (medicine) a brief loss of consciousness.[2][8]
  • absent
  • absenter
  • absentéisme
  • Latin absentia

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF