abesse

Abesse is a Latin verb meaning to be away, to be absent, or to be distant. It is a compound formed with the prefix ab- attached to esse (to be) and is used to express absence or removal from a person, place, or thing, or a state of being not present.

Etymology and form: Abesse derives from the prefix ab- meaning away, combined with esse. In Latin, it shares the verb’s tense system and, in its present indicative, has forms such as absum, abes, abest, absumus, abestis, absunt. The verb is primarily textual rather than a modern-usage term, appearing in classical, post-classical, and medieval Latin texts to denote absence or separation. It contrasts with adesse (to be present, to arrive) and with posse (to be able).

Usage and meanings: Abesse is used to indicate that someone or something is not present or is removed from a location, activity, or state. It can describe physical absence, but also more abstract lack or distance, such as time, opportunity, or suitability. In some constructions, the verb is combined with a dative to express something lacking to someone, a nuance commonly summarized as “to be lacking for someone.” The semantic range thus covers both location-based absence and figurative absence.

Related terms: Abesse is part of a family of Latin verbs built with the prefix ab-; its semantic opposite is adesse (to be present). The noun absentia (absence) derives from the same root concept. In English, absence and related terms echo the same idea of not being present.

See also: Latin verbs of being, esse, adesse, absentia, absence.