intj. (Winchester College).—1. ‘Absent’: placed against the name of a boy when absent from school.
Verb.—1. To take away. Formerly, circa 1840, TO ABS a tolly (candle), meant to put it out; now it = to take it away, whether lighted or unlighted: the modern NOTION (q.v.) for putting it out being to ‘dump’ it.
2. To get (or put) away; generally in the imperative: e.g., ‘ABS!’ Hence, TO ABS quickly = TO STIR ONE’S STUMPS (q.v.) or to put things away with speed. TO HAVE ONE’S WIND ABSED = to get a BREATHER (q.v.) in the stomach.
