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abstain
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verb
  1. (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.
  2. (intransitive) To shun voluntarily.
  • Not a few abstained from voting. - Macaulay
  • Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? - Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i
    1. (intransitive) Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
    2. (transitive) hinder, Hinder; withhold.
  • Whether he men from marrying. - Milton
Translations:
  • Dutch: verhinderen
  • Spanish: abstener-se
    (trans-bottom) (trans-top, refrain from voting)
    • Czech: zdržet se
    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.

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