absence
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“I am”).
Pronunciation
- (General American)
- IPA(key): /ˈæb.sn̩s/, /ˈæb.sn̩ts/
- (in the medical sense) IPA(key): /ˈæbsɑns/, /æbˈsɑns/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
absence (usually uncountable, plural absences)
- A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; the period of being away. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
- (Can we date this quote?) Phillipians 2:12
- Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.
- Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
- 15 September 2018, Barney Ronay, The Guardian, Finely tuned Liverpool are really getting into Jürgen Klopp’s groove:
- Harry Kane was an absence in that first half. He touched the ball 11 times despite Spurs taking 62% of possession.
- 15 September 2018, Barney Ronay, The Guardian, Finely tuned Liverpool are really getting into Jürgen Klopp’s groove:
- Lack; deficiency; nonexistence. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
- He had an absence of enthusiasm.
- (Can we date this quote?) Kent
- In the absence of conventional law.
- Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind). [First attested in the early 18th century.][1]
- absence of mind
- (Can we date this quote?), Joseph Addison
- Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind.
- 1824-1829?, Walter Landor, Imaginary Conversations
- To conquer that abstraction which is called absence.
- (medicine) Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy. [First attested in the mid 20th century.][1]
- (fencing) Lack of contact between blades.
Antonyms
- (state of being away): presence
- (lack, deficiency, nonexistence): existence, possession, sufficiency
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
References
- “absence” in Lesley Brown, editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 8.
Czech
Etymology
From French absence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“I am”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈapsɛnt͡sɛ]
Declension
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | absence | absence |
genitive | absence | absencí |
dative | absenci | absencím |
accusative | absenci | absence |
vocative | absence | absence |
locative | absenci | absencích |
instrumental | absencí | absencemi |
Related terms
- See esence
Danish
Inflection
common gender |
Singular | Plural | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
nominative | absence | absencen | absencer | absencerne |
genitive | absences | absencens | absencers | absencernes |
Synonyms
French
Etymology
From Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“I am”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ap.sɑ̃s/
audio (file)
Further reading
- “absence” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Middle English
Etymology
From Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“I am”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /abˈsɛns(ə)/
Noun
absence (plural absences)
- Being away or elsewhere; absence.
- Nonattendance or nonexistence; failure to appear.