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)

  1. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
    1. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism). [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
    2. 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.
    3. (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.
  2. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
  3. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.][1]
  4. (business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References
  1. 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.

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French abstinence, from Old French abstinence, borrowed from Latin abstinentia.

Pronunciation
  • Audio(file)

Noun

abstinence f (plural abstinences)

  1. abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)
  2. abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from alcohol)
  3. abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from sexual relations)

Further reading

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French abstinence.

Noun

abstinence f (plural abstinences)

  1. abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)

Descendants
  • French: abstinence

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)

  1. abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)

Descendants
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