Abstinere

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To purposely refrain from engaging in an activity or consuming something ; to keep oneself away from a particular behavior or indulgence ; to exercise self-restraint by not partaking in a specific action
2. Demonstrating self-control by deliberately avoiding certain actions or substances ; intentionally withholding oneself from participation or indulgence ; choosing not to involve oneself in particular behaviors
3. Resisting the urge to act or consume through conscious choice ; practicing avoidance or denial of specific temptations ; maintaining discipline by staying away from particular habits or pleasures

Etymology: "Abstinere" is the Latin infinitive meaning "to hold oneself back" or "to refrain," built from "abs," meaning "away from," and "tenere," meaning "to hold." The sense of holding something off at a distance is still visible in the English word it gave rise to. Its past participle "abstinentem" passed into Old French as a form related to "abstenir," and English later borrowed the noun "abstinence" in the 1300s, first in the sense of self-restraint from food, drink, or pleasure. The verb itself is a Latin source rather than a direct English word. English took "abstain" from Old French "abstenir," which descended from the same Latin root, so the two words are close relatives that arrived by separate routes. The common ancestor of "tenere" also gave English words like "tenant" and "retain," all of which share the core idea of holding.

Synonyms: refrain, withhold, avoid, desist, forego

Antonyms: indulge, partake, engage, consume, yield