Part 27

Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Phil. ii. 12.

2. Want; destitution; withdrawal. "In the absence of conventional law." Kent.

3. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind. "Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind." Addison.

To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. Landor.

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 Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present.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

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`sen*ta"ne*ous (&?;), a. [LL. absentaneus. See absent] Pertaining to absence. [Obs.]

Ab`sen*ta"tion (&?;), n. The act of absenting one's self. Sir W. Hamilton.

Ab`sen*tee" (&?;), n. One who absents himself from his country, office, post, or duty; especially, a landholder who lives in another country or district than that where his estate is situated; as, an Irish absentee. Macaulay.

Ab`sen*tee"ism (&?;), n. The state or practice of an absentee; esp. the practice of absenting one's self from the country or district where one's estate is situated.

Ab*sent"er (&?;), n. One who absents one's self.

Ab"sent*ly (&?;), adv. In an absent or abstracted manner.

Ab*sent"ment (b*snt"ment), n. The state of being absent; withdrawal. [R.] Barrow.

Ab`sent-mind"ed(&?;), a. Absent in mind; abstracted; preoccupied. -- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ness, n. -- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ly, adv.

Ab"sent*ness (&?;), n. The quality of being absent-minded. H. Miller.

Ab"sey-book`(&?;), n. An A-B-C book; a primer. [Obs.] Shak.

{ Ab"sinth`, Ab"sinthe` } (&?;), n. [F. absinthe. See Absinthium.] 1. The plant absinthium or common wormwood.

2. A strong spirituous liqueur made from wormwood and brandy or alcohol.

Ab"sin"thate (&?;), n. (Chem.) A combination of absinthic acid with a base or positive radical.

Ab*sin"thi*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to wormwood; absinthian.

Ab*sin"thi*an (&?;), n. Of the nature of wormwood. "Absinthian bitterness." T. Randolph.

Ab"sin"thi*ate (&?;), v. t. [From L. absinthium: cf. L. absinthiatus, a.] To impregnate with wormwood.