adj.
Pronunciation: ' ab-s ə nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin absent-, absens, present participle of abesse to be absent, from ab- + esse to be ― more at IS
Date: 14th century
1 : not present or attending : MISSING
2 : not existing : LACKING <danger in a situation where power is absent ― M. H. Trytten>
3 : lost in thought : not attentive
synonyms see ABSTRACTED
– ab · sent · ly adverb