abstain

verb

/əbˈsteɪn/UK/əbˈsteɪn/US

Etymology

First attested around 1380. From Middle English absteynen, absteinen, abstenen, from Old French astenir, abstenir, from Latin abstineō (“to hold oneself back”) from abs- (“from”) + teneō (“to hold”). See also tenable.

derived from abstineō
derived from astenir
inherited from absteynen

Definitions

Keep or withhold oneself.
2
Refrain from (something or doing something)
Refrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence.
- In order to improve his health, Rob decided to abstain from smoking.
- Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt?
Fast (not eat for a period).
›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer
1. 4
  Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
  - I abstain from this vote, as I have no particular preference.
  - […]forcing a small portion of the population to abstain from voting
2. 5
  Hinder
  Hinder; keep back; withhold.
  - Whether he abstain men from marying [sic].

The neighborhood

synonymabjure
synonymdeny oneself
synonymforbear
synonymforgo
synonymgive up
synonymrefrain
synonymrelinquish
synonymwithhold
neighborabstemious
neighborabstinence
neighborabstinent

Derived

abstainable, abstainer, abstainment, abstention, nonabstaining

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for abstain. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA