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abstain

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionaryab·stain \əb-ˈstān, ab-\ intransitive verb ETYMOLOGY Middle English absteinen, from Anglo-French asteign-, absteign-, stem of astenir, abstenir, from Latin abstinēre,from abs-, ab- + tenēre to hold — more at thin DATE 14th century: to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice abstain from drinking• ab·stain·er nounEnglish Etymologyabstain late 14c., "to withhold oneself," from O.Frhttp://O.Fr. abstenir, from L.abstinere "withhold," from ab(s)- "from, away from" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Specifically of liquor, attested from late 14c. Of voting, 1885.Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7abstainab·stain / Eb5stein / verb[V] ~ (from sth) 1. to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against sth (投票时)弃权: Ten people voted in favour, nine against and ten abstained. 十人投票赞成,五人反对,两人弃权。 2. to decide not to do or have sth, especially sth you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong 戒；戒除: to abstain from alcohol / sex / drugs 戒酒；禁欲；戒毒 3. (IndE) to stay away from sth 离开；回避　: The workers who abstained from work yesterday have been suspended. 昨天旷工的工人被暂时停职。 ⇨ see also abstention , abstinenceWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgedab·stain\əbzˈtān, ab-, -bˈst-\ verb(-ed/-ing/-s)Etymology: Middle English absteinen, abstenen, from Middle French abstenir, from Latin abstinēre, from abs- (variant of ab- ab (I)) + tenēre to hold — more at thinintransitive verb: to withhold oneself from participation : refrain voluntarily :withhold oneself deliberately from an action < a vote of nine million in favor, eight million against, and nine million abstaining — E.J.Knapton >: forbear — often used with from < they abstained from comment > < a lifelong pledge to abstain from drinking — M.V.Reidy >transitive verbobsolete : withholdSynonyms: see refrain

Abstain Verb From To From Withhold Sth Ab·Stain