Abstinence

Abstinence
Abstinence Ab"sti*nence, n. [F. abstinence, L. abstinentia, fr. abstinere. See {Abstain}.] 1. The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, -- called also {total abstinence}. [1913 Webster]

The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

2. The practice of self-denial by depriving one's self of certain kinds of food or drink, especially of meat. [1913 Webster]

Penance, fasts, and abstinence, To punish bodies for the soul's offense. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Abstinence — • Includes information about old and new testament fasting as well as church laws Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Abstinence     Abstinence      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • abstinence — [ apstinɑ̃s ] n. f. • austinance 1050; lat. abstinentia 1 ♦ Privation volontaire de certains aliments (par ex., viande) ou boissons (alcool), pour une raison religieuse ou médicale. Faire abstinence le vendredi. ⇒ 1. maigre. 2 ♦ Littér. ⇒… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Abstinence — is a voluntary restraint from indulging a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to abstention from sexual intercourse, alcohol or food. The practice can… …   Wikipedia

  • abstinence — Abstinence. s. f. Vertu par laquelle on se prive des plaisirs de la bouche. L abstinence n est guere moins utile au corps qu à l ame. une louable abstinence. Il se dit aussi de La simple moderation dans l usage des aliments. On luy a ordonné une… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • abstinence — Abstinence, f. penacut. Abstinentia. Abstinence de vin, Vini abstinentia. Abstinence de soupper, Coenae abstinentia. Abstinence de guerre, Feriae bellicae, B. Induciae temporariae …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • abstinence — (n.) mid 14c., forbearance in indulgence of the appetites, from O.Fr. abstinence (earlier astenance), from L. abstinentia, noun of quality from abstinentem (nom. abstinens), prp. of abstinere (see ABSTAIN (Cf. abstain)). Specifically of sexual… …   Etymology dictionary

  • abstinence — index abstention, continence, disuse, moderation, nonuse, temperance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • abstinence — *temperance, continence, abstemiousness, sobriety Analogous words: forbearance, refrainment (see corresponding verbs at REFRAIN): forgoing, eschewal, abnegation (see corresponding verbs at FORGO): *renunciation, self denial, self abnegation… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • abstinence — [n] restraint from desires, especially physical desires abnegation, abstaining, abstemiousness, asceticism, avoidance, chastity, continence, fasting, forbearance, frugality, moderation, refraining, renunciation, self control, self denial, self… …   New thesaurus

  • abstinence — ► NOUN ▪ the practice of abstaining, especially from drinking alcohol. DERIVATIVES abstinent adjective. ORIGIN Latin abstinentia, from abstinere, hold from …   English terms dictionary

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