Ab*sent" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absented;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Absenting.]
[Cf. F. absenter.] 1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent intercourse; -- used with
the reflexive pronoun.
If after due
summons any member absents himself, he is to be
fined.
Addison.
2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] "Go; for thy stay,
not free, absents thee more." Milton.
Ab"sent (&?;), a. [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth.]
1. Being away from a place;
withdrawn from a place; not present. "Expecting absent friends." Shak.
2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent.
3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an absent air.
What
is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man.
Chesterfield.
Syn.
-- Absent, Abstracted. These words
both imply a want of attention to surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts wander unconsciously
from present scenes or topics of discourse; we speak of him
as abstracted when his mind
(usually for a brief period) is drawn off
from present things by some weighty matter for reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of
loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests and
cares, or from unfortunate habits of association.
Hear it pronounced