abstain

views updated May 23 2018

ab·stain / abˈstān/ • v. [intr.] 1. restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something. ∎  refrain from drinking alcohol: most pregnant women abstain or drink very little.2. formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion.DERIVATIVES: ab·stain·er n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

abstain

views updated Jun 11 2018

abstain XIV. ME. abste(i)nen, repr. tonic stem of (O)F. abstenir — L. abstinēre, f. ABS- + tenēre hold, keep.
So abstention XVI.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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abstain

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