absence

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ep
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂epó
3. Proto-Italic*ap
4. Latinab
5. Latinab-
6. Proto-Indo-European*h₁es-
7. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ésti
8. Proto-Indo-European*bʰuH-
9. Proto-Indo-European*bʰúHt
10. Proto-Italic*ezom~*som
11. Old Latinesum
12. Latinsum
13. Latinabsum
14. Latinabsēns
15. Latinabsentia
16. Old Frenchabsence
17. Middle Englishabsence
18. English todayabsence

From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“to be”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around 1350 to 1470. 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 in the early 18ᵗʰ century. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).
• First attested in the mid 20ᵗʰ century. Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.