Definitions
abstain Tweet Definition of abstain Like Definition of abstain on Facebook
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.


      Supplemental Details:Sponsor an extended definition for abstain for as little as $10 per month. Click here to contact us.

           
      

     Find:
      Words Starting With:
      Words Ending With:
      Words Containing:
      Words That Match:

     
     Translate Into:
      
    Dutch   French   German
      
    Italian   Spanish
        Show results per page.

    Browse the Dictionary
    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

       
    Dictionary content provided from Wiktionary.org under the GNU Free Documentation License
    Allwords Copyright 1998-2024 All rights reserved.