A'bsent. adj. [absens, Lat.]
- Not present; used with the particle from.
In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love;
At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove;
But Delia always; absent from her fight,
Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. Pope's Past.Where there is advantage to be given,
Both more and less have given him the revolt;
And none serve with him but constrained things,
Whole hearts are absent too. Shakespeare's Macbeth.Whether they were absent or present, they were vexed alike. Wisd. xi. 11.
- Absent in mind, inattentive; regardless of the present object.
I distinguish a man that is absent, because he thinks of something else, from him that is absent, because he thinks of nothing. Addison, Spectator, № 77.