Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Absent, v. [ME. absente (c 1366), F. absenter, L. absentāre.]

1. refl. To withdraw (oneself); to remain away.1456 Hay I. 183/19 (to absent him to sauf his lyf). 1469 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 416 (wilfulli to absent me fra the ressayt of the sowm). c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxi. 18 (absentand thé). 1549 Compl. 38/9 (the sternis absentit them). 1583 St. A. Baxter Bks. 36 (quhosoewer absentis thame self).

2. tr. To cause to be absent; to take away, remove. 15.. Dunb. App. x. 11.
Lat no dirk clud absent fro ws thy face 1541 Reg. Cupar A. II. 13.
In cace that … he absent the foulis tane be him 1560 Rolland Seven S. 278/2.
Gif ȝe absent fra him ȝour gude kindnes

3. intr. To go, or remain, away. c1475 Wall. viii. 1281.
A marchell gart absent Bot lordis 1533 Bell. Livy II. 146/10.
Plesandlie to absent fra thare housis and wyiffis a1568 Scott xxvii. 24.
Will scho absent, Hyne sall I went

4. tr. To depart or remain away from; to leave. c1475 Wall. viii. 635.
Wallace thaim chargyt hys presens till absent ?a1500 Stell Roy Robert 110.
Thow swoir in parliament Ingland ten ȝeiris thow suld absent