absence

[In Fr. absence; Ital. a enza; Lat. absent i a, fr. absens, pr. par. of absum = to be away, to be absent.] 1. The state of being away from a place in which one has formerly resided, or from people with whom one has previously been. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence."- Phil . ii. 12. Used of things as well as persons. "We should hold day with the Antipodes, If you would walk in absence of the sun." Shakesp.: Merchant of Venice, v. 1. 2. Want of, destitution of, not implying any previous presence. the absence of medullary canals in the long bones in the sloths."-Owen Cla ific. of Mammal i a. 3. Law : Failure to put in an appearance when cited to a court of law. 4. Inattention to things present. Often a person charged with "absence of mind" has his mind intensely present in some imagined scene or train of thought quite different from that with which the rest of the company are occupied. From their point of view, therefore, he manifests "absence of mind." other cases the absent person is not particularly attending to anything, but is simply in In The American Dictionary and Cyclopedia a lethargic mood. In the same way we speak of an "absence of all thought."