abstinence

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word abstinence. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word abstinence, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say abstinence in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word abstinence you have here. The definition of the word abstinence will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofabstinence, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain +‎ -ence.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

abstinence (countable and uncountable, plural abstinences)

  1. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
    1. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism).
    2. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.
      Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.
    3. (ecclesiastical) Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance.
      • 1995 September 18, Rafael Alvarez, “Catholics asked to avoid eating meat on Fridays Cardinal suggests abstinence in weeks leading up to Pope's visit”, in Baltimore Sun‎:
        "The church teaching before Vatican II was that it was 'gravely sinful' to take 2 ounces of meat on a day of abstinence such as Friday," said the Rev. Joseph S. Rossi, a Jesuit professor of church history at Loyola College.
  2. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
  3. (Should we delete(+) this sense?) (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
  4. (business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abstinence”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 10.

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French abstinence, from Old French abstinence, borrowed from Latin abstinentia.

Pronunciation

Noun

abstinence f (plural abstinences)

  1. abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)
  2. abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from alcohol)
  3. abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from sexual relations)

Related terms

Further reading

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French abstinence.

Noun

abstinence f (plural abstinences)

  1. abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)

Descendants

  • French: abstinence

Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin abstinentia, at least in this form (some of the variants may only be semi-learned); later modified to bring it in line with the Latin etymon.

Noun

abstinence oblique singular, f (oblique plural abstinences, nominative singular abstinence, nominative plural abstinences)

  1. abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)

Descendants

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia