English
Etymology
From Old English absteynen, abstenen, from Old French astenir, abstenir, from Latin abstinere, abstentum, "keep or refrain from"; from prefix abs- "from", + tenere, "hold". See tenable.
Pronunciation
(RP) IPA|/�b�steɪn/
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-eɪn|-eɪn
Verb
en-verb
- intransitive refrain|Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from.
- intransitive To shun voluntarily.
#:*Not a few abstained from voting. - Macaulay
#:*Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? - Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i
- intransitive Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
- transitive hinder|Hinder; withhold.
#:*Whether he abstain men from marrying. - Milton
Synonyms
deny oneself
forbear
give up
refrain
relinquish
withhold
Translations
trans-top|refrain from
Czech: zdržet se
Danish: afholde sig fra
Dutch: zich onthouden (van)
Frisian: jin ôfsetten fan
Hebrew: ×�×�×�×�× ×¢ (lehimana')
trans-mid
Norwegian: avholde seg
Novial: abstina
Russian: возде�жа����
Spanish: abstener-se
trans-bottom
trans-top|refrain from voting
Czech: zdržet se
Danish: afholde sig fra ((at stemme) = from voting)
Dutch: zich onthouden (van stemming)
trans-mid
Novial: abstina
trans-bottom
trans-top|hinder, withhold
Danish: forhindre
Dutch: verhinderen
Frisian: keare, behinderje, ferhinderje
trans-mid
Novial: abstina
trans-bottom
Derived terms
abstention
ar:abstain
fa:abstain
fr:abstain
gl:abstain
io:abstain
hu:abstain
ml:abstain
pt:abstain
fi:abstain
sv:abstain
ta:abstain
te:abstain
vi:abstain
uk:abstain
zh:abstain
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