absence

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Italic *ap Latin abder. Latin ab- Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésti Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *bʰúHt Proto-Italic *ezom~*som Old Latin 𐌄𐌔𐌏𐌌 (esom) Old Latin esum Latin sum Latin absum Latin absēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin absentiader. Old French absencebor. Middle English absence English absence From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“to be”).

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 A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship

   “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

2. The period of someone being away.

   “During Jane's absence, Mark will be taking charge.”

   “Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence.”

3. Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency.

   “Harry Kane was an absence in that first half. He touched the ball 11 times despite Spurs taking 62% of possession.”

   “Then, in January, a creeping tsunami of train cancellations, triggered by major staff absences as a result of the aggressive transmissibility of Omicron, heaped further misery on rail users.”

4. Lack; deficiency; non-existence.

   “He had an absence of enthusiasm.”

   “in the absence of higher and more authoritative sanctions the ordinances of foreign states, the opinions of eminent statesmen, and the writings of distinguished jurists, are regarded as of great consideration on questions not settled by conventional law”

5. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).

   “absence of mind”

   “Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind.”

6. Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.
7. Lack of contact between blades.