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

A properly dressed salad is no more abstemious than anything else.

From The Guardian • Aug. 15, 2019

Look closely enough—and believe me, I did—and you’ll notice the results of that abstemious discipline on the 57-year-old Cook’s 6-foot-3 frame.

From Slate • Jan. 30, 2018

There are echoes of Beckett in this novel’s abstemious style and existential echoes.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2017

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