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abstain

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The definition of abstain is choosing to not do something.

(verb)

An example of abstain is to not eat animal products during Lent.

Abstain means to not vote.

(verb)

An example of abstain would be a senator who chooses not to vote on a particular bill.

See abstain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to hold oneself back; voluntarily do without; refrain (from): to abstain from smoking

Origin: ME absteinen < OFr abstenir < L abstinere, to hold back < ab(s)-, from + tenere, to hold: see tenant

Related Forms:

abstainer noun

See abstain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb ab·stained, ab·stain·ing, ab·stains

To refrain from something by one's own choice: abstain from traditional political rhetoric. See Synonyms at refrain¹.
To refrain from voting: Forty senators voted in favor of the bill, 45 voted against it, and 15 abstained.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English absteinen, to avoid

Origin: , from Old French abstenir

Origin: , from Latin abstinēre, to hold back

Origin: : abs-, ab-, away; see ab-¹

Origin: + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

ab·stainˈer noun

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