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.
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, adjective o·ver·ab·stain, verb (used without object)Words nearby abstain
Example sentences from the Web for abstain
British Dictionary definitions for abstain
abstain
/ (əbˈsteɪn) /
verb (intr usually foll by from)
to choose to refrain
he 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