absentee

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

From absent + -ee.

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around 1350 to 1470. A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.
• First attested around 1350 to 1470. Designating a person absent in a particular capacity, sometimes implying that they are difficult to contact, unresponsive, avoiding their responsibilities, etc.
• First attested around 1350 to 1470. A person who is absent from their residence and usual environment, and has not been seen or heard from for some period of time, so that it is unknown whether they are still alive, for the purpose of civil law dealing with the management of property etc. in such cases.
• First attested in the early 17ᵗʰ century. A landholder who lives in another district or country than the one in which his estate is situated.
• First attested in the early 20ᵗʰ century. A voter who is not present at the time of voting; absentee voter.