What is the meaning, in English, of the Latin word, "absque"?

The Latin word “absque” is a preposition that translates to “without” in English. The English origin is that the term “absque” is derived from the prefix “ab-” meaning “from, away from” and the root “sque” which is an old interchange in Latin likely relating to a state of being or condition that does not involve something. Its etymology suggests a sense of separation or lack.

“Absque” does not have conjugations or declensions like verbs or nouns/adjectives. It is always used in the same form regardless of grammatical case.

Over time, “absque” has been used in various forms in Romance languages and is primarily found in Classical Latin texts. It might appear in legal writings and philosophical discussions, often to denote exclusion from a stated condition or element.

Scholars and writers in the Middle Ages often employed “absque” for symbolic and theological writing, especially when denoting spiritual concepts such as absence from sin.

In modern English, “absque” is rarely used directly but can be found in scholarly or artistic references to Latin texts. The concept of “without” is commonly encountered in English derivations, mainly due to the influence of Latin on English vocabulary. There are contexts in law and literature where the term may surface as a direct borrowing to maintain the original Latin expression, particularly in legal Latin phrases (eg., “absque hoc”, meaning “without this”).