abstain

verbhold back from doing

Synonyms for abstain

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Antonyms for abstain

Word Origin & History

late 14c., "to withhold oneself," from Old French abstenir (14c.), earlier astenir (13c.) "hold (oneself) back, refrain, abstain (from), practice abstinence," from Latin abstinere "withhold, keep back, keep off," from ab(s)- "from, away from" (see ab-) + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Specifically of liquor, attested from late 14c. Of voting, 1796. Related: Abstained; abstaining.

Example Sentences forabstain

Merely to abstain from definition was like a load taken off my mind.

I told him that he might abstain in future from such a mockery of love.

Then we must abstain from spoiling the dead or hindering their burial?

I do not include Socrates, who is able either to drink or to abstain, and will not mind, whichever we do.

Or would you abstain from using the potion altogether, although you have no reason for abstaining?'

And do you not regard it as right and just to abstain from wrong?

The Newry folks, and all of their breed, abstain from whining and cadging.

If both are open to suspicion,199 we abstain from drawing any conclusion.

Is it not his guide at table-d'hte, teaching him, when to eat, and where to abstain?

Seeing that she had been so treated had she not been wrong to abstain from the word?

abstain

avoid

avoided

avoiding

curb

curbed

abstain

More words related to abstain

abnegate

avoid

avoided

avoiding

curb

curbed