I. ˈab-sənt 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
II. ab-ˈsent, ˈab-ˌ transitive verb
Date: 15th century
: to keep (oneself) away
III. ˈab-sənt preposition
Date: 1944
: in the absence of : without