absence

• abs.

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”).

• (General American)
  • IPA^(key): /ˈæb.sn̩s/, /ˈæb.sn̩ts/
  • (in the medical sense) IPA^(key): /ˈæbsɑns/, /æbˈsɑns/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

absence (usually uncountable, plural absences)

1. A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; the period of being away.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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind). [First attested in the early 18^th 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.

5. (medicine) Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy. [First attested in the mid 20^th century.][1]
6. (fencing) Lack of contact between blades.

• (state of being away): presence
• (lack, deficiency, nonexistence): existence, possession, sufficiency

• absence makes the heart grow fonder

• absent
• absentee
• absenteeism

• casbene

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”).

• IPA^(key): [ˈapsɛnt͡sɛ]

absence f

1. absence

• See esence

• absence in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• absence in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

From French absence.

absence c (singular definite absencen, plural indefinite absencer)

1. (medicine) petit mal

• petit mal

• “absence” in Den Danske Ordbog

From Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“I am”).

• IPA^(key): /ap.sɑ̃s/

• audio

  (file)

absence f (plural absences)

1. absence (state of being absent or withdrawn)

• “absence” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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”).

• IPA^(key): /abˈsɛns(ə)/

absence (plural absences)

1. Being away or elsewhere; absence.
2. Nonattendance or nonexistence; failure to appear.

• absent

• English: absence
• Scots: absence

• Stratmann, Francis Henry; Henry Bradley (First published 1891) A Dictionary of Middle English‎, London: Oxford University Press, published 1954, page 3