absentee

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 absēnsder. Old French ausentder. Middle French absentbor. ▲ Latin absēnsbor. Middle English absent English absent English -ee English absentee From absent + -ee.

1. A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.

   “At roll-call there were three absentees.”

2. A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.

   “absentee father; absentee landlord; absentee freeholder”

3. A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.
4. Something that is not present where it might be expected.

   “The manufacturer's promised new model was a notable absentee at the car show.”

5. Designating something whose owner, person responsible, etc. is absent.

   “absentee ballot, absentee property”

   “In Wyoming, a GOP state senator forwarded an FGA draft bill to Secretary of State Chuck Gray that would prohibit sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms.”

6. A landholder who lives in another district or country than the one in which his estate is situated.

   “My trustees are going to lend Earl Blessington sixty thousand pounds (at six per cent.) on a Dublin mortgage. Only think of my becoming an Irish absentee!”

7. A voter who is not present at the time of voting; absentee voter.

   “In recent primaries, for example, nearly 4% of absentees were rejected in Philadelphia; 8% in Kentucky; and 20% in parts of New York City.”