abstain
Use Abstain in a sentence
verb (used without object)
1.
to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed by from ): to abstain from eating meat.
2.
to refrain from casting one's vote: a referendum in which two delegates abstained.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English abste(i)nen < Middle French abstenir ≪ Latin abstinēre, equivalent to abs- abs- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold, keep
1350–1400; Middle English abste(i)nen < Middle French abstenir ≪ Latin abstinēre, equivalent to abs- abs- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold, keep
Related forms
non·ab·stain·ing, adjective
o·ver·ab·stain, verb (used without object)
Synonyms
1. forbear; desist, cease.
1. forbear; desist, cease.
Antonyms
1. indulge.
1. indulge.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To abstain
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Abstain
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is advocate. Does it mean:
| to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly: |
| to reprove or find fault with; rebuke; censure; blame. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
abstain (əbˈsteɪn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (usually foll by from) | |
| 1. | to choose to refrain: he abstained from alcohol |
| 2. | to refrain from voting, esp in a committee, legislature, etc |
| [C14: via Old French from Latin abstinēre, from abs- | |
| ab'stainer | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
abstain
late 14c., "to withhold oneself," from O.Fr. abstenir, from L. abstinere "withhold," from ab(s)- "from, away from" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Specifically of liquor, attested from late 14c. Of voting, 1885.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The decision to construe those sets of numbers as the yes, no, and abstain votes of the faculty rests entirely with the candidate.
It was the visitor's delicacy that made her abstain from interference.
If you didn't 't want to participate in the discussion, you were free to abstain.
Some simple books abstain from slick photography but work well in the kitchen.
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