Noun

(en-noun)

A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; the period of being away.

* (rfdate) (w) 2:12

Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence .

Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency.

* (rfdate) - Kent

In the absence of conventional law.

Lack; deficiency; nonexistence.

Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind).

* (rfdate), (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)

Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of mankind.

* 1824-1829? , (w), (Imaginary Conversations)

To conquer that abstraction which is called absence .

(medical) Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.

(fencing) Lack of contact between blades.

Noun

(en noun)

(finance) The condition of failing to meet an obligation.

He failed to make payments on time and is now in default .

You may cure this default by paying the full amount within a week.

(electronics, computing) the original software programming settings as set by the factory

A loss incurred by failing to compete.

The team's three losses include one default .

A selection made in the absence of an alternative.

''The man became the leader of the group as a default .

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 15 , author=Felicity Cloake , title=How to cook the perfect nut roast , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium [sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.}}

(often, attributive) A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.

If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.

(legal) The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.

(obsolete) A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires.

This evil has happened through the governor's default .

(obsolete) Fault; offence; wrong act.

* Spenser

And pardon craved for his so rash default .

* Alexander Pope

regardless of our merit or default