Definition of absent

The word "absent" has a rich history! It originated from the Latin word "absens," which is a past participle of the verb "absente," meaning "to be away" or "to be missing." The Latin word is derived from "ab," meaning "from" or "away," and "scoere," meaning "to attend" or "to be present." The Latin word "absens" was first used in the 14th century to describe something or someone that is not present or does not exist at a particular place or time. The word was later borrowed into Middle English as "absent," and has since been used in various contexts, including geography (e.g., absent-mindedly, a place without something) and law (e.g., a person absent from court). Today, the word "absent" is widely used in many languages, including English, French, Spanish, and many others, to describe the state of being away or missing from a place or situation.