English Lexicon

Absence

/ˈæb.səns/
nounCEFR B1 (Intermediate)Top #800 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The state of being away from a place or person.

    "Her absence from the meeting was noted by everyone."
  2. 2

    The lack of something that is normally present.

    "The absence of evidence made it difficult to prove the case."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'absence' originates from the Latin 'absentia', which means 'a being away'. It evolved through Middle English, reflecting the state of being not present or missing, with its usage expanding in the 14th century to encompass emotional and physical contexts.

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