Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Absent?

\Ab"sent\, a. [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. {Sooth}.] 1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. ``Expecting absent friends.'' --Shak. 2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent. 3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air. What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man. --Chesterfield. Syn: {Absent}, {Abstracted}. Usage: These words both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association.
\Ab*sent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Absented}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Absenting}.] [Cf. F. absenter.] 1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun. If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined. --Addison. 2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] ``Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more.'' --Milton.