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Added 9 October 2026

absence

/ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ noun

In Latin: absentia Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about absence at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The state of being absent.
he was surprised by the absence of any explanation
Failure to be present.
The time interval during which something or somebody is away.
he visited during my absence

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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