absence

Etymology

From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“I am away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“I am”).

noun

1. A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship
   Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
2. The period of someone being away.
   During Jane's absence, Mark will be taking charge.
3. Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency.
   Harry Kane was an absence in that first half. He touched the ball 11 times despite Spurs taking 62% of possession. 2018-09-15, Barney Ronay, “Finely tuned Liverpool are really getting into Jürgen Klopp’s groove”, in The Guardian
   Then, in January, a creeping tsunami of train cancellations, triggered by major staff absences as a result of the aggressive transmissibility of Omicron, heaped further misery on rail users. January 12 2022, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Unhappy start to 2022”, in RAIL, number 948, page 3
4. Lack; deficiency; nonexistence.
   He had an absence of enthusiasm.
   in the absence of higher and more authoritative sanctions the ordinances of foreign states, the opinions of eminent statesmen, and the writings of distinguished jurists, are regarded as of great consideration on questions not settled by conventional law 1826, James Kent, Commentaries on American Law
5. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).
   absence of mind
   To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. c. 1824-1829, Walter Landor, Imaginary Conversations
6. (medicine) Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.
7. (fencing) Lack of contact between blades.