Absteynen

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To voluntarily hold oneself back from doing or enjoying something, especially a pleasure or indulgence, as found in Middle English writing
2. Denying oneself a particular pleasure or action by one's own choice, a usage recorded in Middle English texts
3. Choosing to keep away from some act or indulgence, an archaic Middle English sense of restraining oneself

Etymology: Its core is a simple physical image: Latin "abstinere" combined "abs-", meaning "away", with "tenere", "to hold". To abstain was literally to hold oneself away from something. The same "tenere" sits inside "tenant", "contain" and "retain", so these words all share a root about holding. Middle English borrowed the verb from Old French "abstenir", which came from that Latin original. The "-en" ending on this spelling is the regular Middle English infinitive marker, which later English dropped, leaving the modern "abstain". Some English words built on the same Latin verb, such as "abstinence", kept a stronger sense of self-denial, especially of food, drink or sex.

Synonyms: refrain, forbear, avoid

Antonyms: indulge, partake