absence
/ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.34 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency.
Uncountable
noun
Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
- "During Jane's absence, Mark will be taking charge."
- "Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence."
- "Harry Kane was an absence in that first half. He touched the ball 11 times despite Spurs taking 62% of possession."
- "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."
- "He had an absence of enthusiasm."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Italic *ap Latin abder. Latin ab- Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésti Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰúHt Proto-Italic *ezom~*som Archaic Latin 𐌄𐌔𐌏𐌌 (esom) Old Latin esum Latin sum Latin absum Latin absēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin absentiader. Old French absencebor. Middle English absence English absence From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“to be”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/
Usage
Inflected Forms
absences (plural)
abs. (alternative)