Absent

ab·sent (bsnt)

adj.

1. Not present; missing: absent friends; absent parents.

2. Not existent; lacking: a country in which morality is absent.

3. Exhibiting or feeling inattentiveness: an absent nod.

tr.v. (b-snt) ab·sent·ed, ab·sent·ing, ab·sents

To keep (oneself) away: They absented themselves from the debate.

prep.

Without: "Absent a legislative fix, this is an invitation for years of litigation" (Brian E. O'Neill).

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin absns, absent-, present participle of abesse, to be away : ab-, away; see ab-¹ + esse, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots.]

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absent·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.