absence

== English == === Alternative forms === abs. === Etymology === From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“I am”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/, /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩ts/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/, /ˈæb.sn̩ts/ (in the medical sense) IPA(key): /ˈæbsɒns/, /æbˈsɒns/ Rhymes: (in the medical sense) -ɒns === Noun === absence (usually uncountable, plural absences) A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship The period of someone being away. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.] Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.] Lack; deficiency; non-existence. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.] Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind). [First attested in the early 18th century.] (medicine) Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy. [First attested in the mid 20th century.] (fencing) Lack of contact between blades. ==== Synonyms ==== missingness ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “state of being away”): presence (antonym(s) of “lack, deficiency, nonexistence”): existence, possession, sufficiency ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== absent absentee absenteeism absential ==== Translations ==== === References === === Anagrams === casbene == Czech == === Etymology === Borrowed from French absence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“I am”). First attested in the 19th century. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈapsɛnt͡sɛ] === Noun === absence f absence ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== See esence === References === === Further reading === “absence”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957 “absence”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989 “absence”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026 == Danish == === Etymology === From French absence, from Latin absentia. === Noun === absence c (singular definite absencen, plural indefinite absencer) (medicine) petit mal ==== Inflection ==== ==== Synonyms ==== petit mal === References === “absence” in Den Danske Ordbog == French == === Etymology === From Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“to be”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ap.sɑ̃s/ === Noun === absence f (plural absences) absence (state of being absent or withdrawn) ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== absent ==== Descendants ==== → Czech: absence → Danish: absence → German: Absence → Luxembourgish: Absence → Romanian: absență === Further reading === “absence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012 == Middle English == === Etymology === From Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“of, by, from”) + sum (“I am”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /abˈsɛns(ə)/ === Noun === absence (plural absences) Being away or elsewhere; absence. Nonattendance or nonexistence; failure to appear. ==== Related terms ==== absent ==== Descendants ==== English: absence Scots: absence === References === Stratmann, Francis Henry with Henry Bradley (First published 1891), A Dictionary of Middle English‎[2], London: Oxford University Press, published 1954, page 3