- abstain from something
- abstain from somethingto avoid some activity or the use of some substance, such as alcohol, drugs, sex, or food. •
They abstained from hard liquor and any other kind of intoxicants.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
abstain from something
Look at other dictionaries:
abstain from — restrain oneself from doing something. → abstain … English new terms dictionary
abstain — [[t]æbste͟ɪn[/t]] abstains, abstaining, abstained 1) VERB If you abstain from something, usually something you want to do, you deliberately do not do it. [FORMAL] [V from n] Abstain from sex or use condoms... Do you drink alcohol, smoke, or… … English dictionary
abstain — UK [əbˈsteɪn] / US verb [intransitive] Word forms abstain : present tense I/you/we/they abstain he/she/it abstains present participle abstaining past tense abstained past participle abstained 1) a) to deliberately avoid doing something that is… … English dictionary
abstain — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. i. forbear, refrain. See avoidance, moderation, asceticism, disuse.Ant., indulge. II (Roget s IV) v. Syn. refrain, forbear, renounce, desist, forgo, withhold, avoid, stop, deny oneself, hold aloof… … English dictionary for students
abstain — ab|stain [ əb steın ] verb intransitive 1. ) to deliberately avoid doing something that is enjoyable but may not be healthy, safe, or morally right: abstain from: A high percentage of women said they had abstained from alcohol during pregnancy. a … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
abstain — ab|stain [əbˈsteın] v [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: abstenir, from [i]Latin abstinere, from abs away + tenere to hold ] 1.) to choose not to vote for or against something ▪ Six countries voted for the change, five voted against, and two … Dictionary of contemporary English
abstain — /əbˈsteɪn / (say uhb stayn) verb (i) 1. to refrain deliberately from casting one s vote. –phrase 2. abstain from, to refrain voluntarily from, especially from drinking or enjoying something: abstain from drinking alcohol. {Middle English… …
abstain — verb (I) 1 to not vote either for or against something in an election 2 formal to not do something, especially something enjoyable, because you think it is bad for your health or morally wrong (+ from): Pilots must abstain from alcohol for 24… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
abstain — verb 1》 (often abstain from) restrain oneself from doing something. 2》 formally decline to vote. Derivatives abstainer noun Origin ME: from OFr. abstenir, from L. abstinere, from ab from + tenere hold … English new terms dictionary
abstain — /ab stayn /, v.i. 1. to hold oneself back voluntarily, esp. from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually fol. by from): to abstain from eating meat. 2. to refrain from casting one s vote: a referendum in which two delegates abstained … Universalium
abstain — ab•stain [[t]æbˈsteɪn[/t]] v. i. 1) to refrain voluntarily, esp. from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usu. fol. by from): to abstain from eating meat[/ex] 2) gov to refrain from casting one s vote: Two delegates abstained[/ex] •… … From formal English to slang
