Absenting

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The behavior of deliberately choosing not to participate or be present at an event reflects a conscious decision to avoid attendance
2. The act of intentionally staying away from a meeting or event by choice
3. Choosing not to take part in or missing a scheduled occurrence on purpose

Etymology: Latin "absens" was the present participle of "absum," meaning "to be away from," built from "ab" ("away") and "sum" ("to be"). So the root idea is simply being somewhere other than where one should be. The verb "absent" (as a reflexive, "to absent oneself") came into English in the Middle Ages, borrowed through Old French from the Late Latin "absentāre," which meant "keep away, be away." The verb "absenting" is the form used for the act of staying away on purpose. The Latin roots never carried a sense of choice, though. They describe the state of not being present, and the deliberate, willed sense of "absenting oneself" developed later in English from that base.

Synonyms: withdrawing, departing, leaving, retreating, skipping

Antonyms: attending, participating, presenting, joining, appearing