ETYM French, from Latin absentia. Related to Absent.
1. Failure to be present.
2. The state of being absent.
3. The time interval during which something or somebody is away.
ETYM Old Eng. lak; cf. Dutch lak slander, laken to blame, Old High Germ. lahan, as. leán.
The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable; SYN. deficiency, want.