[ab.sent] adj [ME, fr. MF, fr. L absent-, absens, prp. of abesse to be absent, fr. ab- + esse to be--more at is] (14c) 1: not present or attending: missing
2: not existing: lacking "danger in a situation where power is ~ --M. H. Trytten"
3: inattentive, preoccupied -- ab.sent.ly adv
[2]ab.sent vt (15c): to keep (oneself) away [3]ab.sent prep (1945): in the absence of: without