abstinence
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
abstinence (countable and uncountable, plural abstinences)
- The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
- 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 11:
- Penance, Faſts, and Abſtinence, / To puniſh Bodies for the Souls offence.
- 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
- The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one.
- 1981 August 22, Larry Goldsmith, “Lesbian and Gay Independents”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 6, page 10:
- These five short films by San Francisco artist James Broughton, reveal to the viewer the artistic changes undergone by the artist during his 15-year abstinence from filmmaking.
- Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism). [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
- Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
- Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.
- (ecclesiastical) Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
- 1995 September 18, Rafael Alvarez, “Catholics asked to avoid eating meat on Fridays Cardinal suggests abstinence in weeks leading up to Pope's visit”, in Baltimore Sun:
- "The church teaching before Vatican II was that it was 'gravely sinful' to take 2 ounces of meat on a day of abstinence such as Friday," said the Rev. Joseph S. Rossi, a Jesuit professor of church history at Loyola College.
- (Should we delete(+) this sense?) The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
- (Should we delete(+) this sense?) (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
- (business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.
Derived terms
Translations
the act or practice of abstaining
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specifically, abstinence from alcohol
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specifically, abstinence from sexual intercourse
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the practice of self-denial
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delay of spending
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See also
References
- Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abstinence”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 10.
- “abstinence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
French
Etymology
Inherited from Middle French abstinence, from Old French abstinence, borrowed from Latin abstinentia.
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Noun
abstinence f (plural abstinences)
- abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)
- abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from alcohol)
- abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from sexual relations)
Related terms
Further reading
- “abstinence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Old French
Alternative forms
- abstinance, astenance, astinence, austinance, austinence
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin abstinentia, at least in this form (some of the variants may only be semi-learned); later modified to bring it in line with the Latin etymon.
Noun
abstinence oblique singular, f (oblique plural abstinences, nominative singular abstinence, nominative plural abstinences)
- abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)
Descendants
- Middle English: abstinence
- English: abstinence
- Middle French: abstinence
- French: abstinence
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