ABSENT • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Absent

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/ˈæbsənt/ Listen

adjective

Absent adj.

1.

Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. "Expecting absent friends."

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."

Synonyms: Absent, Abstracted. These words both imply a lack 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.

verb

Absent v. t. (past & past part. absented; pres. part. absenting)

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."

2.

To withhold from being present. (Obs.) "Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more."

See images of 'Absent'

Etymology of 'Absent'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Absent" Quotes from Famous Books

... here, sir?" a voice broke into my thoughts, and I saw that the little man had cleared a place for me next his own, which was in a corner facing the engine. Thanking him absent-mindedly, I sat down, and began to observe my travelling companions for the ...

— The Powers and Maxine • Charles Norris Williamson

... circumstances. It might excite feeling against us. It is a very bad case. But we will pull through, I hope. We generally do. Give the case wholly into my hands. We'll postpone, I think. I shall have to make an affidavit that there are important witnesses absent, or something of the sort. But we'll have the case postponed. There's some popular feeling against you, and juries go as the newspapers do. Now, I see but one way, and that is to postpone until the feeling dies down. Then ...

— The Mystery of Metropolisville • Edward Eggleston

... He was absent for more than six weeks, during which he wrote frequently from various out-of-the-way places on the Rhine. On returning, he found Cecily in London, very anxious about the child, and herself looking very ill. He, on the other hand, was robust and in excellent ...

— The Emancipated • George Gissing

... and Persian character of his laws too well to disobey them. When Mittie went out, making a demure curtsey at the door, she lingered a little longer than usual, supposing he would release Helen from her prison house; but Master Hightower was one of the most absent men in the world, and he had forgotten the little prisoner ...

— Helen and Arthur - or, Miss Thusa's Spinning Wheel • Caroline Lee Hentz

... emphasis on the virginal significance of the hymen; and a recent book from a prominent publisher goes so far as to try to frighten girls into remaining chaste by stating that a physician could discover if they have been unchaste. This is far from being always true, for the structure may be congenitally absent, may sometimes remain after sexual union, or may be accidentally destroyed in childhood; and reliable physicians have stated that proving unchastity by the hymen is by no means easy. Hence, the less said about the ancient belief, the better for young women. The truth is that the hymen is a ...

— Sex-education - A series of lectures concerning knowledge of sex in its - relation to human life • Maurice Alpheus Bigelow

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