abstainv.

Brit.

/əbˈsteɪn/,

/abˈsteɪn/, U.S.

/əbˈsteɪn/,

/æbˈsteɪn/

Forms: Middle English absteene, Middle English absten, Middle English abstene, Middle English abstine, Middle English abstyne, Middle English–1500s abstayne, Middle English–1500s absteine, Middle English–1500s absteyn, Middle English–1500s absteyne, 1500s abstayn, 1500s abstein, 1500s–1600s abstaine, 1500s– abstain, 1500s–1600s (1800s– nonstandard) obstain; Scottish pre-1700 abstaine, pre-1700 abstane, pre-1700 abstayne, pre-1700 absteene, pre-1700 abstein, pre-1700 absteine, pre-1700 absten, pre-1700 abstene, pre-1700 absteyn, pre-1700 absteyne, pre-1700 abstine, pre-1700 1700s– abstain, pre-1700 1800s absteen.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French abstenir; Latin abstinēre.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman absteigner, abstiner, abstinir, Anglo-Norman and Middle French abstenir (French abstenir ) to restrain oneself from, refrain from (mid 11th cent. in reflexive use as astenir in Old French), to deprive (oneself) voluntarily (of food, luxuries, etc.) (1204 in reflexive use; 2nd half of the 13th cent. in non-reflexive use in this sense), to keep (a person) from, prevent (c1275 in Anglo-Norman), (in reflexive use, of a judge) to refuse to judge a case (1626) and its etymon classical Latin abstinēre to keep (something) away, to restrain, to cause to fast, to hold back, to check, to stay or keep away, to refrain, to fast, to avoid, (in reflexive use) to keep away, to refrain, to fast < abs- (see ab- prefix) + tenēre to hold (see tenant n.). Compare Old Occitan abstener, abstenir, estener (late 12th cent.; Occitan (reflexive) absténer, abstenir), Catalan abstenir (late 13th cent.), Spanish abstener (c1220–30), Portuguese abster (14th cent.), Italian astenere (a1292).With the development of classical Latin abs- in French compare discussion at ab- prefix.

a. transitive (reflexive). To keep or withhold oneself. Frequently with †of, from. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (reflexive)]

withholdc1200

withdrawc1290

defendc1350

abstainc1380

holda1400

deport1477

forbear1535

check1581

detract1637

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 3761 (MED) Of wepyng ne miȝt sche abstene hur noȝt.

c1390 (?c1350) St. Bernard l. 603 in C. Horstmann Sammlung Altengl. Legenden (1878) 51 (MED) He abstined him so wondurliche and trauailed and waked so bisyliche.

?1435 in C. L. Kingsford Chrons. London (1905) 81 (MED) My seyde lorde..was warnyd theroff and counseylled..to absteyne him off komynge to Westminstre.

1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxxxxvii. 130 To kepe trewly her maryage, and also absteyne her of synne.

a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1261 My consell is, therfore, you to absten.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Acts xv. C Wryte vnto them, that they absteyne them selues from fylthynesse of Idols.

1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (rev. ed.) f. 10 Feill thow than sin, and abstené [v.r. abstane] thy sell.

a1631 J. Donne 50 Serm. (1649) xxxvii. 340 If, though you abstain your self, you will lend them a wife, or a childe, or a servant to be present there, A posteriori, by this effect, by this their working upon you, you justifie their unjust Mission.

1795 W. Hodgson tr. P. H. T. d'Holbach Syst. Nature II. xii. 407 In vain, the law cries out to him to abstain himself from the goods of his neighbour.

1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days II. x. 200 Promise to abstain yourself from any farther efforts in an enterprise which is hopeless.

1897 Positivist Rev. 1 Nov. 197 It was Comte's view..that all attempts to organize public ceremonial must be premature and abortive. He carefully abstained himself from any attempt in this direction.

1980 Jrnl. Royal Asiatic Soc. 35 The government had been largely responsible for the Muslims' having abstained themselves from the state system of education.

b. transitive. To keep (something) back, withhold. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)] > keep what is due to or desired by another

ofholdOE

withholdc1200

abstaina1387

keep?1463

to hold up?1499

refrain?1504

outhold1512

detainc1535

to keep back1535

subtracta1538

substract1542

to hold out1907

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 297 (MED) He abstyned from hym slepe [L. somni abstinens].

tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. l. 743 (MED) [The bulls] musten ben abstened [L. abstinendos] ffrom generacionis liberte.

a1450 Quixley's Ballades in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1909) 20 47 (MED) The beautee þat he see in hir soleyne Made hym of na poair, his lustes frele For to abstene.

1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. ccxlvii^v From outwarde thynges his mynde doth he abstayne.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. H.ij^v For a small season the louer maie absteyne his loue.

1645 J. Milton Tetrachordon 8 For what difference at all whether he abstain men from marying, or restrain them in a mariage hapning totally discommodious.

a1658 J. Cleveland Clievelandi Vindiciæ (1677) 140 My Lord doth justly abstain his hand from his Dispatch.

1661 England's Warning-piece 6 Let him abstaine his Honour that day, otherwise hee will take a Fall at Court, and pitch his Head again at Berkley Castle.

1788 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 30/2 Let us abstain our daring hands from all the lumber of other men.

1886 L. Srareem tr. Vichar Mala 62 If he regards Self as a doer and enjoyer,..he must abstain his mind from not-Self and concentrate it on Self.

1917 A. K. Reischauer Stud. Japanese Buddhism iii. 119 He gives up doing all works and abandons perceiving all objects, does nothing at all, and abstains his six organs of sense from performing their respective functions.

a. intransitive. To stop oneself from doing or indulging in something; to refrain, forbear. Usually with from (also †fro).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)]

to let bec1000

fastOE

withdraw1297

letc1374

forbearc1375

abstaina1382

sparec1386

respitea1393

to let alonea1400

refraina1402

supersede1449

deport1477

to hold one's handa1500

spare1508

surcease1542

detract1548

to hold back1576

hold1589

to stand by1590

to hold up1596

suspend1598

stickle1684

to hold off1861

to bottle it1988

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Num. vi. 3 From al þat may make dronke þei sholyn absteyne.

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 75 Þe chamberlayn absteynede nouȝte at þe fulle, for he took a knyf.

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 228 (MED) This makith not that a man abstene fro eny morali good spice.

a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 141 (MED) It is noȝt profitable þat þe flesche be absteyned fro.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 12 To absteyn from flesch apon the fryday..ys now reputyd a certayn vertue.

1570 G. Buchanan Vernacular Writings (1892) 33 Gif yis unsaciabill thrist of blude myt be imputit to hasty anger..yair myt be sum hoip yat..yai wald..amend faltis bipast or..at ye leist abstene in tyme to cum.

1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres v. 165 To absteine from committing these excesses.

1683 D. A. Whole Art Converse 44 Let us abstain from railery least it return by reflex upon our selves.

1746 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 50 That they do abstain from all servile Labour on that Day.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §3. 26 I therefore abstained from mentioning it subsequently.

1889 F. W. Farrar Ambrose in Lives Fathers II. xv. §3. 169 Theodosius..as a penitent..abstained from presenting himself at divine service.

1912 J. Hastings Great Texts of Bible 267 If we are to do any good in this world we have to live by rigid control and abstain from much that is perfectly legitimate.

1954 ACLS Newslet. 5 No. 2. To abstain from the temptation to meddle into the inner affairs of other departments.

2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 9 Oct. 24/4 The rite is available only to virgins, who agree to abstain from sex so they can dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ.

b. spec. To refrain from casting one's vote.

(a) intransitive. With from.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > give (a vote) [verb (transitive)] > not

abstain1678

1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. x. 398 With us these Bishops abstain from votting in criminal Processes brought in to the Parliament.

1794 J. Fenwick tr. C.-F. Dumouriez Memoirs I. iv. 54 They ought, therefore, to have abstained from giving their vote.

1885 A. W. Peel in Hansard Commons 12 May 342 I should recommend each Member to be guided by his own feelings in the matter, and to vote or abstain from voting as he thinks fit.

1931 Economist 12 Sept. 466/2 Sir Oswald and the small group which supports him abstained from the lobby.

1946 W. S. Churchill Victory 93 You felt it necessary on account of your convictions to abstain from the division about Poland.

2007 J. M. L. Viegas & S. Faria in A. Freire et al. Portugal at Polls vii. 163 The large majority of those who abstained from voting in both the 1999 and 2002 elections (regular abstainers) also abstained from voting in the 2001 local elections.

(b) intransitive. Without construction.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > express choice [verb (intransitive)] > by some approved means > not

abstain1853

1853 Minutes 31 Aug. in M. F. Maury Explan. & Sailing Dir. (1854) 74 The second part was negatived by 5 votes against 3; two members abstained.

1906 Ann. Reg. May 124 The Irish Nationalists voted with the Opposition; the Ulster Unionists abstained.

1931 Daily Mirror 9 Sept. 3/1 Three Socialists abstained—Miss Picton Turberville, Mr. Strauss and Sir Norman Angell.

1965 A. J. P. Taylor Eng. Hist. 1914–45 viii. 281 Time and again, the Liberals split three ways—some voting with the government, some against, the rest abstaining.

2001 Times 27 Feb. i. 23/2 Large numbers of people..are disappointed with Labour but..would not align themselves with William Hague. They will abstain or, if civic-minded, might turn out for the Liberal Democrats instead.

†a. intransitive. To live austerely, practice abstinence. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 148^v He [sc. the falcon] fleeþ and voydeþ careyne and..absteyneþ & abideþ til he may fynd couenable pray.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. D.iij If he be temperate and moderate, all wil absteyne.

b. intransitive. To refrain from food; (formerly) spec. †to fast (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > fasting > fast [verb (intransitive)]

fasteOE

abstaina1425

hain1606

a1425 (a1400) Northern Pauline Epist. (1916) Rom. xiv. 6 (MED) He þat etys not, þat is he þat abstenes, to oure lord he etys not.

1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. viii Many men wolde eat meat if they had it, and therfore nolens volens, they do abstayne.

1608 J. Donne Annunciation & Passion in Poems (1633) 168 Tamely fraile body, abstaine to day; to day My soule eates twice.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage iii. x. 294 In their Fast or Lent they abstaine very religiously.

1719 J. Bingham Origines Ecclesiasticæ VI. xiv. iii. 414 They that fasted and abstained, had as it were a sort of Fellow-Suffering with admirable Job.

a1773 A. Butler Moveable Feasts Catholic Church (1774) v. iii. 233 If we subtract the six Sundays on which the faithful only abstained, we shall find the fast reduced to thirty-six days.

1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvi. [Eumaeus] 576 To fast and abstain on the days commanded.

2007 What is Hinduism? xii. 127 (caption) Hindus understand the sound reasons against eating meat, and many abstain entirely.

c. intransitive. To refrain from drinking alcohol, to be a teetotaller. Also with from.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > abstention from drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > totally abstain from alcohol

abstain1784

to put (also keep) in the pin1827

to take (also sign, keep) the pledge1833

teetotal1883

to take the blue ribbon1884

teetotalize1898

1784 Gentleman's & London Mag. Aug. 449/2 To abstain from spirits of every kinds however diluted, as much as may be.

1819 Patriot 18 Sept. 64/2 We shall conquer the State,..And compel the Excise ta give in, Provided the Gemmen from Spirits abstain, And the ladies from Smoking and Gin.

1832 Dr. Springwater Cold-water-man 100 Let all drunkards abstain entirely.

1864 Temperance Spectator Feb. 27/2 Several have told me..that while they had abstained, some for weeks or months, they were far better in every respect than while they drank.

1996 J. E. Royce & D. Scratchley Alcoholism & other Drug Probl. iii. xii. 191 Alcoholics must be taught that they cannot drink moderately, and..should abstain.

†4. transitive. To avoid, refrain from (something). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)]

holdc897

forgoa1000

oversitOE

forbearc1200

letc1330

to let bec1385

to lay apart1526

refrain1528

to let pass1530

retainc1540

abstain1578

restrain1594

stay1599

nurture1627

withhold1650

waive1653

inhold1655

withstand1852

skip1961

1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 284 Hir companie to abstene culd he nocht.

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 476 To be briefe, perswaded they were: That to abstaine eating of flesh or fish dressed in the kitchin..made mens bodies more healthy.

1661 Marquis of Argyll Def. against Grand Indytement High Treason Pref. 4 Conscience and honour will make them abstaine sitting and voteing therein.

1695 tr. P. Le Moyne Of Art of writing Hist. ix. iv. 211 There are Locutions and Figures he must avoid with as much care, as a Vertuous Woman abstains all things that offend her Modesty.

5. intransitive. South Asian. Chiefly with from. To stay away from one's workplace, school, etc. Also transitive: to stay away from (one's workplace, school, etc.).

ΚΠ

1927 Times of India 19 Jan. 5/5 The men, who abstained from work yesterday, are expected to return this afternoon.

1954 Times of India 11 Feb. 9/6 Several colleges were also affected [by a teachers' strike], the students abstaining from their classes in sympathy with the teachers.

2009 Right Vision News (Pakistan) (Nexis) 4 Dec. In India, TB exacts a devastating social cost, more than 3,00,000 children abstain school because their parents suffer from TB.

2014 United News of India (Nexis) 10 Feb. Functioning of nationalised banks in Karnataka was paralysed as the employees abstained from the office to join country wide strike call.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	abstain
释义	abstainv. Brit. /əbˈsteɪn/, /abˈsteɪn/, U.S. /əbˈsteɪn/, /æbˈsteɪn/ Forms: Middle English absteene, Middle English absten, Middle English abstene, Middle English abstine, Middle English abstyne, Middle English–1500s abstayne, Middle English–1500s absteine, Middle English–1500s absteyn, Middle English–1500s absteyne, 1500s abstayn, 1500s abstein, 1500s–1600s abstaine, 1500s– abstain, 1500s–1600s (1800s– nonstandard) obstain; Scottish pre-1700 abstaine, pre-1700 abstane, pre-1700 abstayne, pre-1700 absteene, pre-1700 abstein, pre-1700 absteine, pre-1700 absten, pre-1700 abstene, pre-1700 absteyn, pre-1700 absteyne, pre-1700 abstine, pre-1700 1700s– abstain, pre-1700 1800s absteen. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French abstenir; Latin abstinēre. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman absteigner, abstiner, abstinir, Anglo-Norman and Middle French abstenir (French abstenir ) to restrain oneself from, refrain from (mid 11th cent. in reflexive use as astenir in Old French), to deprive (oneself) voluntarily (of food, luxuries, etc.) (1204 in reflexive use; 2nd half of the 13th cent. in non-reflexive use in this sense), to keep (a person) from, prevent (c1275 in Anglo-Norman), (in reflexive use, of a judge) to refuse to judge a case (1626) and its etymon classical Latin abstinēre to keep (something) away, to restrain, to cause to fast, to hold back, to check, to stay or keep away, to refrain, to fast, to avoid, (in reflexive use) to keep away, to refrain, to fast < abs- (see ab- prefix) + tenēre to hold (see tenant n.). Compare Old Occitan abstener, abstenir, estener (late 12th cent.; Occitan (reflexive) absténer, abstenir), Catalan abstenir (late 13th cent.), Spanish abstener (c1220–30), Portuguese abster (14th cent.), Italian astenere (a1292).With the development of classical Latin abs- in French compare discussion at ab- prefix. 1. a. transitive (reflexive). To keep or withhold oneself. Frequently with †of, from. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (reflexive)] withholdc1200 withdrawc1290 defendc1350 abstainc1380 holda1400 deport1477 forbear1535 check1581 detract1637 c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 3761 (MED) Of wepyng ne miȝt sche abstene hur noȝt. c1390 (?c1350) St. Bernard l. 603 in C. Horstmann Sammlung Altengl. Legenden (1878) 51 (MED) He abstined him so wondurliche and trauailed and waked so bisyliche. ?1435 in C. L. Kingsford Chrons. London (1905) 81 (MED) My seyde lorde..was warnyd theroff and counseylled..to absteyne him off komynge to Westminstre. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) lxxxxvii. 130 To kepe trewly her maryage, and also absteyne her of synne. a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1261 My consell is, therfore, you to absten. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Acts xv. C Wryte vnto them, that they absteyne them selues from fylthynesse of Idols. 1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (rev. ed.) f. 10 Feill thow than sin, and abstené [v.r. abstane] thy sell. a1631 J. Donne 50 Serm. (1649) xxxvii. 340 If, though you abstain your self, you will lend them a wife, or a childe, or a servant to be present there, A posteriori, by this effect, by this their working upon you, you justifie their unjust Mission. 1795 W. Hodgson tr. P. H. T. d'Holbach Syst. Nature II. xii. 407 In vain, the law cries out to him to abstain himself from the goods of his neighbour. 1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days II. x. 200 Promise to abstain yourself from any farther efforts in an enterprise which is hopeless. 1897 Positivist Rev. 1 Nov. 197 It was Comte's view..that all attempts to organize public ceremonial must be premature and abortive. He carefully abstained himself from any attempt in this direction. 1980 Jrnl. Royal Asiatic Soc. 35 The government had been largely responsible for the Muslims' having abstained themselves from the state system of education. b. transitive. To keep (something) back, withhold. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > retaining > retain or keep [verb (transitive)] > keep what is due to or desired by another ofholdOE withholdc1200 abstaina1387 keep?1463 to hold up?1499 refrain?1504 outhold1512 detainc1535 to keep back1535 subtracta1538 substract1542 to hold out1907 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 297 (MED) He abstyned from hym slepe [L. somni abstinens]. tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) iv. l. 743 (MED) [The bulls] musten ben abstened [L. abstinendos] ffrom generacionis liberte. a1450 Quixley's Ballades in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1909) 20 47 (MED) The beautee þat he see in hir soleyne Made hym of na poair, his lustes frele For to abstene. 1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. ccxlvii^v From outwarde thynges his mynde doth he abstayne. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. H.ij^v For a small season the louer maie absteyne his loue. 1645 J. Milton Tetrachordon 8 For what difference at all whether he abstain men from marying, or restrain them in a mariage hapning totally discommodious. a1658 J. Cleveland Clievelandi Vindiciæ (1677) 140 My Lord doth justly abstain his hand from his Dispatch. 1661 England's Warning-piece 6 Let him abstaine his Honour that day, otherwise hee will take a Fall at Court, and pitch his Head again at Berkley Castle. 1788 Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 30/2 Let us abstain our daring hands from all the lumber of other men. 1886 L. Srareem tr. Vichar Mala 62 If he regards Self as a doer and enjoyer,..he must abstain his mind from not-Self and concentrate it on Self. 1917 A. K. Reischauer Stud. Japanese Buddhism iii. 119 He gives up doing all works and abandons perceiving all objects, does nothing at all, and abstains his six organs of sense from performing their respective functions. 2. a. intransitive. To stop oneself from doing or indulging in something; to refrain, forbear. Usually with from (also †fro). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from action [verb (intransitive)] to let bec1000 fastOE withdraw1297 letc1374 forbearc1375 abstaina1382 sparec1386 respitea1393 to let alonea1400 refraina1402 supersede1449 deport1477 to hold one's handa1500 spare1508 surcease1542 detract1548 to hold back1576 hold1589 to stand by1590 to hold up1596 suspend1598 stickle1684 to hold off1861 to bottle it1988 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Num. vi. 3 From al þat may make dronke þei sholyn absteyne. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 75 Þe chamberlayn absteynede nouȝte at þe fulle, for he took a knyf. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 228 (MED) This makith not that a man abstene fro eny morali good spice. a1500 (?c1425) Speculum Sacerdotale (1936) 141 (MED) It is noȝt profitable þat þe flesche be absteyned fro. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 12 To absteyn from flesch apon the fryday..ys now reputyd a certayn vertue. 1570 G. Buchanan Vernacular Writings (1892) 33 Gif yis unsaciabill thrist of blude myt be imputit to hasty anger..yair myt be sum hoip yat..yai wald..amend faltis bipast or..at ye leist abstene in tyme to cum. 1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres v. 165 To absteine from committing these excesses. 1683 D. A. Whole Art Converse 44 Let us abstain from railery least it return by reflex upon our selves. 1746 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 50 That they do abstain from all servile Labour on that Day. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §3. 26 I therefore abstained from mentioning it subsequently. 1889 F. W. Farrar Ambrose in Lives Fathers II. xv. §3. 169 Theodosius..as a penitent..abstained from presenting himself at divine service. 1912 J. Hastings Great Texts of Bible 267 If we are to do any good in this world we have to live by rigid control and abstain from much that is perfectly legitimate. 1954 ACLS Newslet. 5 No. 2. To abstain from the temptation to meddle into the inner affairs of other departments. 2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 9 Oct. 24/4 The rite is available only to virgins, who agree to abstain from sex so they can dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ. b. spec. To refrain from casting one's vote. (a) intransitive. With from. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > give (a vote) [verb (transitive)] > not abstain1678 1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. x. 398 With us these Bishops abstain from votting in criminal Processes brought in to the Parliament. 1794 J. Fenwick tr. C.-F. Dumouriez Memoirs I. iv. 54 They ought, therefore, to have abstained from giving their vote. 1885 A. W. Peel in Hansard Commons 12 May 342 I should recommend each Member to be guided by his own feelings in the matter, and to vote or abstain from voting as he thinks fit. 1931 Economist 12 Sept. 466/2 Sir Oswald and the small group which supports him abstained from the lobby. 1946 W. S. Churchill Victory 93 You felt it necessary on account of your convictions to abstain from the division about Poland. 2007 J. M. L. Viegas & S. Faria in A. Freire et al. Portugal at Polls vii. 163 The large majority of those who abstained from voting in both the 1999 and 2002 elections (regular abstainers) also abstained from voting in the 2001 local elections. (b) intransitive. Without construction. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > express choice [verb (intransitive)] > by some approved means > not abstain1853 1853 Minutes 31 Aug. in M. F. Maury Explan. & Sailing Dir. (1854) 74 The second part was negatived by 5 votes against 3; two members abstained. 1906 Ann. Reg. May 124 The Irish Nationalists voted with the Opposition; the Ulster Unionists abstained. 1931 Daily Mirror 9 Sept. 3/1 Three Socialists abstained—Miss Picton Turberville, Mr. Strauss and Sir Norman Angell. 1965 A. J. P. Taylor Eng. Hist. 1914–45 viii. 281 Time and again, the Liberals split three ways—some voting with the government, some against, the rest abstaining. 2001 Times 27 Feb. i. 23/2 Large numbers of people..are disappointed with Labour but..would not align themselves with William Hague. They will abstain or, if civic-minded, might turn out for the Liberal Democrats instead. 3. †a. intransitive. To live austerely, practice abstinence. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 148^v He [sc. the falcon] fleeþ and voydeþ careyne and..absteyneþ & abideþ til he may fynd couenable pray. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. D.iij If he be temperate and moderate, all wil absteyne. b. intransitive. To refrain from food; (formerly) spec. †to fast (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > fasting > fast [verb (intransitive)] fasteOE abstaina1425 hain1606 a1425 (a1400) Northern Pauline Epist. (1916) Rom. xiv. 6 (MED) He þat etys not, þat is he þat abstenes, to oure lord he etys not. 1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. viii Many men wolde eat meat if they had it, and therfore nolens volens, they do abstayne. 1608 J. Donne Annunciation & Passion in Poems (1633) 168 Tamely fraile body, abstaine to day; to day My soule eates twice. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage iii. x. 294 In their Fast or Lent they abstaine very religiously. 1719 J. Bingham Origines Ecclesiasticæ VI. xiv. iii. 414 They that fasted and abstained, had as it were a sort of Fellow-Suffering with admirable Job. a1773 A. Butler Moveable Feasts Catholic Church (1774) v. iii. 233 If we subtract the six Sundays on which the faithful only abstained, we shall find the fast reduced to thirty-six days. 1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvi. [Eumaeus] 576 To fast and abstain on the days commanded. 2007 What is Hinduism? xii. 127 (caption) Hindus understand the sound reasons against eating meat, and many abstain entirely. c. intransitive. To refrain from drinking alcohol, to be a teetotaller. Also with from. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > abstention from drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > totally abstain from alcohol abstain1784 to put (also keep) in the pin1827 to take (also sign, keep) the pledge1833 teetotal1883 to take the blue ribbon1884 teetotalize1898 1784 Gentleman's & London Mag. Aug. 449/2 To abstain from spirits of every kinds however diluted, as much as may be. 1819 Patriot 18 Sept. 64/2 We shall conquer the State,..And compel the Excise ta give in, Provided the Gemmen from Spirits abstain, And the ladies from Smoking and Gin. 1832 Dr. Springwater Cold-water-man 100 Let all drunkards abstain entirely. 1864 Temperance Spectator Feb. 27/2 Several have told me..that while they had abstained, some for weeks or months, they were far better in every respect than while they drank. 1996 J. E. Royce & D. Scratchley Alcoholism & other Drug Probl. iii. xii. 191 Alcoholics must be taught that they cannot drink moderately, and..should abstain. †4. transitive. To avoid, refrain from (something). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] holdc897 forgoa1000 oversitOE forbearc1200 letc1330 to let bec1385 to lay apart1526 refrain1528 to let pass1530 retainc1540 abstain1578 restrain1594 stay1599 nurture1627 withhold1650 waive1653 inhold1655 withstand1852 skip1961 1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 284 Hir companie to abstene culd he nocht. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 476 To be briefe, perswaded they were: That to abstaine eating of flesh or fish dressed in the kitchin..made mens bodies more healthy. 1661 Marquis of Argyll Def. against Grand Indytement High Treason Pref. 4 Conscience and honour will make them abstaine sitting and voteing therein. 1695 tr. P. Le Moyne Of Art of writing Hist. ix. iv. 211 There are Locutions and Figures he must avoid with as much care, as a Vertuous Woman abstains all things that offend her Modesty. 5. intransitive. South Asian. Chiefly with from. To stay away from one's workplace, school, etc. Also transitive: to stay away from (one's workplace, school, etc.). ΚΠ 1927 Times of India 19 Jan. 5/5 The men, who abstained from work yesterday, are expected to return this afternoon. 1954 Times of India 11 Feb. 9/6 Several colleges were also affected [by a teachers' strike], the students abstaining from their classes in sympathy with the teachers. 2009 Right Vision News (Pakistan) (Nexis) 4 Dec. In India, TB exacts a devastating social cost, more than 3,00,000 children abstain school because their parents suffer from TB. 2014 United News of India (Nexis) 10 Feb. Functioning of nationalised banks in Karnataka was paralysed as the employees abstained from the office to join country wide strike call. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < v.c1380
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