ABSTAIN

abstain, refrain, desist

(verb) choose not to consume; “I abstain from alcohol”

abstain

(verb) refrain from voting

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Verb

abstain (third-person singular simple present abstains, present participle abstaining, simple past and past participle abstained)

(transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself. [Attested from around 1350 to 1470 until the mid 16^th century.]

(intransitive) Refrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

(intransitive, obsolete) Fast (not eat for a period). [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

(intransitive) Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

(transitive, obsolete) Hinder; keep back; withhold. [Attested from the early 16^th century until the mid 17^th century.]

Usage notes

• (keep or withhold oneself): Followed by the word from or of.

• (refrain from something): Followed by the word from.

Synonyms

• deny oneself

• forbear

• forgo

• give up

• refrain

• relinquish

• withhold

Anagrams

• Bastian, banitsa

Source: Wiktionary

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Ab*stain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abstained; p. pr. & vb. n. Abstaining.] Etym: [OE. absteynen, abstenen, OF. astenir, abstenir, F. abstenir, fr. L. abstinere, abstentum, v. t. & v. i., to keep from; ab, abs + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]

Definition: To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from. Not a few abstained from voting. Macaulay. Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt Shak.

Syn.

– To refrain; forbear; withhold; deny one's self; give up; relinquish.

Ab*stain", v. t.

Definition: To hinder; to withhold. Whether he abstain men from marrying. Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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