Absent

Ab·sent

Absent

a.
  1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present.
  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 lack 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.

Absent

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Absented; p. pr. & vb. n. Absenting

  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.
  2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.]