abstain
[ ab-steyn ]
/ æbˈsteɪn /
verb (used without object)
to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed by from): to abstain from eating meat.
to refrain from casting one's vote: a referendum in which two delegates abstained.
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Origin of abstain
1350–1400; Middle English abste(i)nen<Middle French abstenir ≪ Latin abstinēre, equivalent to abs-abs- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold, keep
OTHER WORDS FROM abstain
non·ab·stain·ing, adjectiveo·ver·ab·stain, verb (used without object)Words nearby abstain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for abstain
British Dictionary definitions for abstain
abstain
/ (əbˈsteɪn) /
verb (intr usually foll by from)
to choose to refrainhe abstained from alcohol
to refrain from voting, esp in a committee, legislature, etc
Derived forms of abstain
abstainer, nounWord Origin for abstain
C14: via Old French from Latin abstinēre, from abs- ab- 1 + tenēre to hold, keep
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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