distrait

comparative more distrait · superlative most distrait

1. absent-minded, troubled, distracted

   1996: John Le Carré, The Tailor of Panama (Knopf 1996, hardback edition, page 221) "Forgive me for being a fraction distrait today. We're trying to prevent another war."

   4 more examples

   But to return to our friend Desmond:—he was too well bred to have asked such an unfair question, had he not been completely distrait. When the mind is absent without leave, the deputy it leaves behind to secure its unmolested retreat most resembles that apish faculty, memory, and mechanically imitates the manners, and repeats the phrases of others. (Published anonymously, though some citations refer to her pseudonym Madame Panache. Note: Frances Brooke is a different person)http://www.gutenberg.org/files/40160/40160-h/40160-h.htmhttps://books.google.com/books?id=egs4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=madam+panache+francis+moore&source=bl&ots=bagphpXFAX&sig=Q4AFbNwC35ZlIpdBq_VCEPLJirM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZ96PEkoLUAhVn04MKHZBSDW4Q6AEIRzAJ#v=onepage&q=madam%20panache%20francis%20moore&f=false

   1817, Frances Brooke, Manners: A Novel Part III

   I noticed that after my host had read it he seemed even more distrait and strange than before.

   1908, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge, Norton, published 2005, page 1238

   Seated upon the fallen hornbeam, Mrs Thoroughfare was regarding distraitly the sky.

   1919, Ronald Firbank, Valmouth, Duckworth, hardback edition, page 50

   When they had finished and Bond rang for the Pullman porter, he also seemed distrait and avoided looking at Bond.

   1954, Ian Fleming, “The Silver Phantom”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 103