absent

 

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈabs(ə)nt/
  • 1not present in a place, at an occasion, or as part of something: most pupils were absent from school at least once absent colleagues wings are absent in several species of crane flies
  • 2(of an expression or manner) showing that someone is not paying attention to what is being said or done: she looked up with an absent smile

verb

Pronunciation: /abˈsɛnt/
[with object] (absent oneself)
  • stay or go away: halfway through the meal, he absented himself from the table

preposition

formal, North American
  • without: absent a willingness to negotiate, you can’t have collective bargaining

Origin:

Middle English: via Old French from Latin absens, absent- 'being absent', present participle of abesse, from ab- 'from, away' + esse 'to be'