absentia
Pronunciation
- IPA (Classical): [apˈsɛn.ti.a], [apˈsɛn.ti.aː][1]
- IPA (Ecclesiastical): [abˈsɛn.t͡si.a], [abˈsɛn.t͡si.a][1]
Forms
absentia f (genitive absentiae); first declension[1]
Etymology
It is from absēns “absent”, the present participle of absum “to be away”, with the suffix -ia.[2][1][3] It is also spelled ⟨apsentia⟩.[2]
Earliest recorded meaning
Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero contrasts his absence with Piso's.[4][5]
Semantic evolution
It meant absence, especially from Rome or from duty, as in Cicero and Tacitus.[2][5] The TLL calls it rare, lacking in Caesar, Sallust, Nepos and Livy.[6] In Quintilian it meant absence where presence was required, non-appearance in court, and want of testimonies, and in Apuleius lack of things.[2][5]
In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant absence.[7] It survives in Italian assenza and Spanish ausencia, and Old French absence gave English absence in the late 14th century.[1][3]
Timeline
- 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of absence from Rome.[2][4]
- c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of non-appearance.[2][4]
- c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius uses it of a lack.[2][4]
- late 14th century – English absence is recorded.[3]
Meanings
Noun
Related words
- absum
- absēns
- English absence
- English absent
References
- ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson