absent

absent · adjective, noun, preposition¹

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. Old Frenchausent
16. Middle Frenchabsent
17. Latinabsēns
18. Middle Englishabsent
19. English todayabsent

From Middle English absent, from Middle French absent, from Old French ausent, and their source, Latin absens, present participle of absum (“to be away from”), from ab (“away”) + sum (“to be”).

absent · verb²

1. Late Latin · derived fromabsentāre“keep away, be away”
2. Old French · derived fromabsenter
3. Middle English · inherited fromabsenten
4. English todayabsent

From Middle English absenten, from Old French absenter, from Late Latin absentāre (“keep away, be away”).

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around 1350 to 1470. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; existing but not present; (sometimes) missing.
• First attested around 1350 to 1470. Not existing.
• First attested in the early 18ᵗʰ century. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.
• from 15th c. Something absent, especially absent people collectively; those who were or are not there.
• 15th–19th c. An absentee; a person who is not there.
• First attested in the mid 20ᵗʰ century. In the absence of; without; except.
• First attested around 1350 to 1470. To keep (someone) away.
• Attested from around 1350 to 1470 until the late 18ᵗʰ century. Stay away; withdraw.