abstemious

American  

[ab-stee-mee-uhs] / æbˈsti mi əs /

adjective

1. sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; temperate in diet.

2. characterized by abstinence.

   an abstemious life.

3. sparing.

   an abstemious diet.

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abstemious British  

/ əbˈstiːmɪəs /

adjective

1. moderate or sparing, esp in the consumption of alcohol or food; temperate

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Other Word Forms

• abstemiously adverb
• abstemiousness noun
• nonabstemious adjective
• nonabstemiously adverb
• nonabstemiousness noun
• overabstemious adjective
• overabstemiously adverb
• overabstemiousness noun
• unabstemious adjective
• unabstemiously adverb
• unabstemiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of abstemious

1615–25; < Latin abstēmius, equivalent to abs- abs- + tēm- (base of tēmētum intoxicating drink) + -ius -ious

Explanation

Reserve abstemious for someone who exercises restraint, especially with regard to alcohol. A rock musician may sing about enjoying wine and women, but in his private life he may be abstemious. You might get the idea that abstemious is a relative of abstain with a change of consonant, but in fact the two words only share the abs- prefix, meaning "away." The -temious bit in this adjective is from Latin temetum, "intoxicating drink," so it came to refer to someone who keeps alcohol (or other temptations) at arm's length. This word has the vowels a, e, i, o and u in alphabetical order; the adverb abstemiously adds the y!

Example Sentences

During his visit at Cluain Mhic Nóis, Artt makes few complaints about the abbot’s lax management, but everything about his abstemious manner suggests how disappointed he is.

From Washington Post • Aug. 16, 2022

Though the heroes rock vivid, metallic ensembles, villainous Gorr the God Butcher is more abstemious: He wears only a white robe, and all color vanishes from the shadowy realm where he dwells.

From New York Times • Jul. 13, 2022

The holiday follows the abstemious 40-day period of Lent, and it arrives in springtime in the Northern hemisphere, meaning that it’s a day of symbolic spiritual triumph that usually also feels like one.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2020

Together with your abstemious partner, you explore a washed-up, working-class coastal town, interrogating mostly uncoöperative residents as you piece together the broader socioeconomic context of the killing.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 17, 2019

An ardent Methodist, he was an abstemious, plain-spoken man, tall and muscular, with a dry sense of humor.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson