abstinence
noun /ˈæbstɪnəns/
/ˈæbstɪnəns/
[uncountable] (formal)- abstinence (from something) the practice of not allowing yourself something, especially food, alcoholic drinks or sex, for moral, religious or health reasons
- total abstinence from strong drink
Oxford Collocations DictionaryAbstinence is used before these nouns:- pledge
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, from Latin abstinentia, from the verb abstinere, from ab- ‘from’ + tenere ‘hold’.