absence
/ˈæbsəns/noun
mass noun
1- the state of being away from a place or person外出, 不在：
the letter had arrived during his absence
信是在他外出期间到的
I supervised the rehearsal in the absence of the director.
导演不在的时候由我指导排练。
1.1
- count noun an occasion or period of being away from a place or person缺席; 外出期：
repeated absences from school.
屡次缺课。
1.2
absence of
the non-existence or lack of不存在, 缺乏：she found his total absence of facial expression disconcerting.
她感到他的面无表情令人十分不安。
短语
absence makes the heart grow fonder
- proverb you feel more affection for those you love when parted from them〈谚〉小别胜新婚。
absence of mind
- failure to concentrate on or remember what one is doing走神, 心不在焉。
词源
late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin absentia, from absens, absent- （see ABSENT）.