Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Absent \Ab"sent\, a. [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse
   to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. {Sooth}.]
   1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not
      present. ``Expecting absent friends.'' --Shak.

   2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or
      absent.

   3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded;
      preoccupied; as, an absent air.

            What is commonly called an absent man is commonly
            either a very weak or a very affected man.
                                                  --Chesterfield.

   Syn: {Absent}, {Abstracted}.

   Usage: These words both imply a want of attention to
          surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when
          his thoughts wander unconsciously from present scenes
          or topics of discourse; we speak of him as abstracted
          when his mind (usually for a brief period) is drawn
          off from present things by some weighty matter for
          reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of
          loose habits of thought; abstraction commonly arises
          either from engrossing interests and cares, or from
          unfortunate habits of association.

Absent \Ab*sent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Absented}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Absenting}.] [Cf. F. absenter.]
   1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to
      prevent intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun.

            If after due summons any member absents himself, he
            is to be fined.                       --Addison.

   2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] ``Go; for thy stay,
      not free, absents thee more.'' --Milton.

Source : WordNet®

absent
     adj 1: not in a specified place physically or mentally [ant: {present}]
     2: lost in thought; showing preoccupation; "an absent stare";
        "an absentminded professer"; "the scatty glancing quality
        of a hyperactive but unfocused intelligence" [syn: {absentminded},
         {abstracted}, {scatty}]

absent
     v : go away or leave; "He absented himself" [syn: {remove}]