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What is the difference between absent and absorbed?

absent | absorbed |

As adjectives the difference between absent and absorbed

is that absent is (not comparable) being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing while absorbed is fully occupied with one's thoughts; engrossed .

As verbs the difference between absent and absorbed

is that absent is (transitive|nowadays|reflexive) keep away; stay away; go away while absorbed is (absorb).

As a noun absent

is (obsolete) absentee; a person who is away on occasion .

As a preposition absent

is (legal) in the absence of; without .

absent

English

Alternative forms

*

Etymology 1

* From (etyl) absent, (etyl) .

Adjective

(er)
  • (not comparable) Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present; missing.
  • * 1623 , (William Shakespeare), All’s Well That Ends Well, II-iii
  • Expecting absent friends.
  • (not comparable) Not existing; lacking.
  • The part was rudimental or absent .
  • (sometimes, comparable) Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied.
  • * 1746-1747 , Chesterfield, Letters to his Son
  • What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak or a very affected man.
    Antonyms
    * present

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Absentee; a person who is away on occasion.
  • Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • (legal) In the absence of; without.
  • * 1919 , State vs. Britt, Supreme Court of Missouri, Division 2, in The Southwestern Reporter , page 427
  • If the accused refuse upon demand to pay money or deliver property (absent any excuse or excusing circumstance) which came into his hands as a bailee, such refusal might well constitute some evidence of conversion, with the requisite fraudulent intent required by the statute.
  • * 2011 , David Elstein, letter, London Review of Books , XXXIII.15:
  • the Princess Caroline case [...] established that – absent a measurable ‘public interest’ in publication – she was safe from being photographed while out shopping.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) absenter, from .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, now, reflexive) Keep away; stay away; go away.
  • *
  • Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
  • * 1701-1703 , , "Remarks on Italy"
  • If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined.
  • *
  • This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.
  • (obsolete) Stay away; withdraw.
  • (rare) Leave.
  • Anagrams

    *

    References

    English heteronyms ----

    absorbed

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Fully occupied with one's thoughts; engrossed.
  • Something that has been absorbed, taken in, engulfed, imbibed, or assimilated.
  • Verb

    (head)
  • (absorb)
  • Derived terms

    * absorbed dose * self-absorbed

    See also

    * adsorbed

    References

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