A more thorough explanation:

Definition: In Roman law, ei abest (ee-Iab-est) means "it is wanting to him." This phrase is used to refer to any decrease or diminution in a person's assets.

• John inherited a large sum of money from his grandfather, but after a series of bad investments, ei abest - he is now struggling financially.
• After the fire destroyed her home, Sarah's possessions were reduced to ashes, ei abest - she lost everything she owned.

These examples illustrate how ei abest is used to describe a decrease or loss of assets. In the first example, John's financial situation has decreased due to poor investments. In the second example, Sarah has lost all of her possessions due to the fire, resulting in a significant decrease in her assets.