absent English · revision 10653

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=fro absent|origins=la absens}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: adjective: /ˈæb.sənt/; verb: /æbˈsent/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|absent]], a learned borrowing of Latin absēns, present participle of abesse, to be away,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from ab-, away, and esse, to be (see [[essence]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The verb is from Old French absenter, Late Latin absentāre, to cause to be away.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Being away, not present: 1382, in the Wycliffe Bible.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to keep oneself away, is probably from before 1400, in Chaucer's Romaunt of the Rose,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Of time, distant, is from 1535,^(OED 1989) and absent-minded, inattentive, from 1710.^(OED 1989) Of things, lacking or non-existent, is from 1718.^(OED 1989) The preposition, without, in the absence of, is from 1944, chiefly from American legal use.^(Etymonline) ''Absentee'' is from 1537 and ''absenteeism'' from 1829.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – not present.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1400 – to absent oneself.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1537 – absentee.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1710 – absent-minded.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1829 – absenteeism.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1944 – absent, without (preposition).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not present; away or [[missing]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Lacking or non-existent.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Inattentive; [[absent-minded]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To keep oneself away: ''to absent oneself from a meeting''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' Without; in the absence of.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[absently]]

+ * [[absenter]]

+ * [[absentness]]

+ * [[absent without leave]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[absence]]

+ * [[absentee]]

+ * [[absenteeism]]

+ * [[in absentia]]

+ * [[essence]]

+ * [[present]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}