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To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; as, an absconding debtor. That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many recruits to abscond. Macaulay.

A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence. Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Phil. ii. 12.

The act of absenting one's self. Sir W. Hamilton.

One who absents himself from his country, office, post, or duty; especially, a landholder who lives in another country or district than that where his estate is situated; as, an Irish absentee. Macaulay.

The state or practice of an absentee; esp. the practice of absenting one's self from the country or district where one's estate is situated.

The state of being absent; withdrawal. [R.] Barrow.

The quality of being absent-minded. H. Miller.

A combination of absinthic acid with a base or positive radical.

Of or pertaining to wormwood; absinthian.

Of the nature of wormwood. "Absinthian bitterness." T. Randolph.

The bitter principle of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Watts.

The condition of being poisoned by the excessive use of absinth.

(Artemisia absinthium), an intensely bitter plant, used as a tonic and for making the oil of wormwood.

To stand apart from; top leave off; to desist. [Obs.] Raleigh.

A standing aloof. [Obs.]

Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative.

The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness.

An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. "Government . . . granting absolution to the nation." Froude.

The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the absolute; the principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary government; despotism. The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling. Palfrey.

One who is in favor of an absolute or autocratic government.