4 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Absent \Ab"sent\, a. [F., fr absens, absentis p. pr of abesse
to be away from ab + esse to be Cf {Sooth}.]
1. Being away from a place withdrawn from a place not
present. ``Expecting absent friends.'' --Shak.
2. Not existing; lacking; as the part was rudimental or
absent.
3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded;
preoccupied; as an absent air.
What is commonly called an absent man is commonly
either a very weak or a very affected man.
--Chesterfield.
Syn: {Absent}, {Abstracted}.
Usage: These words both imply a want of attention to
surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when
his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes
or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted
when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn
off from present things by some weighty matter for
reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of
loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises
either from engrossing interests and cares or from
unfortunate habits of association.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Absent \Ab*sent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Absented}; p. pr & vb
n. {Absenting}.] [Cf. F. absenter.]
1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to
prevent intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun.
If after due summons any member absents himself, he
is to be fined. --Addison.
2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] ``Go; for thy stay,
not free absents thee more.'' --Milton.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
absent
adj 1: not in a specified place physically or mentally [ant: {present}]
2: lost in thought; showing preoccupation; "an absent stare";
"an absentminded professer"; "the scatty glancing quality
of a hyperactive but unfocused intelligence" [syn: {absentminded},
{abstracted}, {scatty}]
v : go away or leave "He absented himself" [syn: {remove}]
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
ABSENT, adj Peculiarly exposed to the tooth of detraction; vilifed
hopelessly in the wrong superseded in the consideration and affection
of another.
To men a man is but a mind. Who cares
What face he carries or what form he wears?
But woman's body is the woman. O,
Stay thou, my sweetheart, and do never go
But heed the warning words the sage hath said:
A woman absent is a woman dead.
Jogo Tyree
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