abstain
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ab·stain
(ăb-stān′, əb-)intr.v. ab·stained, ab·stain·ing, ab·stains
1. To keep oneself from doing, engaging in, or partaking of something; refrain: abstain from partisan political rhetoric; abstain from drinking alcohol.
2. To refrain from voting: Forty senators voted in favor of the bill, 45 voted against it, and 15 abstained.
[Middle English absteinen, to avoid, from Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinēre, to hold back : abs-, ab-, away; see ab-1 + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]
ab·stain′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
abstain
(əbˈsteɪn)vb
1. to choose to refrain: he abstained from alcohol.
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) to refrain from voting, esp in a committee, legislature, etc
[C14: via Old French from Latin abstinēre, from abs- ab-1 + tenēre to hold, keep]
abˈstainer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ab•stain
(æbˈsteɪn)v.i.
1. to refrain voluntarily, esp. from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usu. fol. by from): to abstain from eating meat.
2. to refrain from casting one's vote: Two delegates abstained.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French abstenir « Latin abstinēre=abs- abs- + -tinēre, comb. form of tenēre to hold, keep]
ab•stain′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
abstain
Past participle: abstained
Gerund: abstaining
| Imperative |
|---|
| abstain |
| abstain |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | abstain - refrain from voting |
| 2. |  abstain - choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol"fast - abstain from eating; "Before the medical exam, you must fast" fast - abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons; "Catholics sometimes fast during Lent" keep off, avoid - refrain from certain foods or beverages; "I keep off drugs"; "During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day" teetotal - practice teetotalism and abstain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
abstain
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يمتنع عن، يُمسك عن
zdržet sezdržovat se
forhindre
sitja hjá; halda sig frá
susilaikymassusilaikyti
atturēties
çekimser kalmakkaçmakuzak durmak
abstain
[əbˈsteɪn] VI2. (= not vote) → abstenerse
3. (= not drink) → abstenerse de las bebidas alcohólicas
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
abstain
[æbˈsteɪn] vi → s'abstenirto abstain from sth → s'abstenir de qch
to abstain from doing → s'abstenir de faire
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
abstain
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
abstain
[əbˈsteɪn] vi (not vote) to abstain (from) → astenersi (da)to abstain from drinking/smoking → astenersi dal bere/dal fumare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
abstain
(əbˈstein) verb (often with from) not to do, take etc. He abstained (from voting in the election); He abstained from alcohol.
abˈstention (-ˈsten-) noun the act of abstaining. At the election of the new chairman the voting was six for, three against, and two abstentions.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
abstain
v. abstenerse, privarse de;
___ from sexual intercourse → ___ de relaciones sexuales
Mex. cuidarse.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
abstain
vi abstenerse; to — from sex abstenerse del sexoEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.