abessive

The story

1. Latin · derived fromabesse“to be absent”
2. English todayabessive

From Latin abesse (“to be absent”), infinitive of absum, from ab- (“away”) + sum (“be”, verb). Compare English absent.

First known use, by meaning

• 19ᵗʰ century. Of, or relating to the grammatical case used in some languages to indicate absence.
• 19ᵗʰ century. The abessive case, or a word in this case.