Middle English Dictionary Entry
absenten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | absenten v. |
| Etymology | OF & L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To go or stay away; (b) ~ (one's) person or presence, to withdraw, go or remain away; (c) refl. to withdraw (esp. in order to evade a duty, obligation, or penalty), go away, stay away; fig. escape (from joy or woe); -- often with from (fro) or out of; (d) to withhold (sth.), reserve, exclude.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4911 : Though for a tyme his herte absente, It may not fayle, he shal repente.
b
- (1425) RParl.4.268b : To yeve in commaundement to both my said Lordes, Erles Mareschall and Warrewyk, to absent her presence oute of yis said high Court of Parlement.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)388/636 : Kepte his chambre..From al peple his persone absentyng.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1688 : Vnkyndenesse gaff hym occasioun Tabsente his persone, &..Texile hymsilff & neuer come ageyn.
c
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1118 : The ton shal absent hym oute Fully that ȝeer.
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)447 : And qwat brother or suster þat absente him in þe tyme of Messe..schal paye to the Fraternite ij s.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.372b : The saide William..absenteth hym in place prevyleged, and wolle not appier.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)203 : Hem that comyn in to merket with her bred Moneday, Tuysday, and Thrusday, and absente hem out of mercat the tother iij dayes, they shal payen the ful custum.
- (1442) Doc.Ireland in RS 69274 : And also hath suffered dyvers lordes spirituell and temporell to absent þem fro Parlementz here afore.
- (1444) RParl.5.121b : Yf eny of hem absent him withouten cause resonable, when he is warned bi the Baillifs.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)43 : Biseeching yow that ye you not absente.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.502 : Be it Ioye or woo, Whiche þat this lady most absenteth hir froo.
- (1450) RParl.5.183a : Ye..shull absente youre self oute of his Reame of Englond.
- (1463) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.66 : Butt absentyth thaym from thensze In the grete derogacyon of the Kyng.
- (?1471) Stonor1.121 : I beseche yowur fadyrhode that the pryst may abbesente hym..and that sum odyr pryst may sey servys for a sesun.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)149/26 : He synneþe also gretly forto absent hym from Godys seruyce yn dew tyme.
d
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)66/9 : Loke thou present thiself .. to the goodnesse of the most excellent Lorde, before whome all thing is presentid and nothing absentid.