What does absit mean?
"Absit" is a Latin interjection adopted into English meaning "may it be absent" or "far be it." It survives almost exclusively in learned set phrases, above all "absit omen" — "may this be no omen" — uttered after mentioning a possible misfortune in order to ward it off, much like touching wood. A related formula, "absit invidia" ("let there be no ill will"), is used when offering criticism so as not to give offence. The word comes from the Latin verb absum, "to be away or absent," combining ab- ("from") with esse ("to be"). Because it functions as a ritual disclaimer rather than an ordinary word, absit carries a distinctly formal, literary, even playful-archaic tone; writers use it to signal classical learning or a wry awareness of superstition. For everyday purposes its English equivalents are "heaven forbid," "God forbid," or "perish the thought."
interjectionA Latin formula meaning 'may it be absent' or 'far be it,' used to avert the suggestion of something unlucky or undesirable, most often in the phrase 'absit omen' ('may this be no omen').
- As part of the formula 'absit omen': an invocation that what has just been mentioned may prove to be no omen of misfortune.
- More generally: a wish that something unwelcome be kept far away (e.g. 'absit invidia,' 'let there be no ill will').
"I hope the deal goes through — absit omen — but we should prepare for delays."
"The surgery is scheduled for Friday — absit omen — and I expect a full recovery."
"He quoted the old tag 'absit invidia' before criticizing his rival's work."
Before you say something might go wrong, Victorians would mutter 'absit omen' — literally 'may it be no omen' — the classical ancestor of knocking on wood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of absit
Absit is the third-person singular present subjunctive of the Latin verb absum, "to be away, be absent," formed from ab- ("away from") plus esse ("to be"). English borrowed it as part of whole Latin formulas rather than as a free-standing word, chiefly in "absit omen" ("may it be no omen") and "absit invidia" ("let there be no offence"). These tags entered English usage through Renaissance and early modern scholarly writing, which habitually sprinkled Latin disclaimers into argument. It shares its root with English words such as "absent" and "absence."
How absit is actually used
Highly formal and literary; almost always encountered in the fixed Latin phrases 'absit omen' and 'absit invidia.' Rare outside scholarly, legal, or deliberately archaic writing.
Easily confused with absit
'Absent' is an ordinary adjective meaning not present, while 'absit' is a Latin interjection used to wish something away or ward off bad luck.