abstinence

ab·sti·nence  (bst-nns)

n.

1. The act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite, as for food.

2. Abstention from alcoholic beverages.

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[Middle English, from Old French abstenance, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinns, abstinent-, present participle of abstinre, to hold back; see abstain.]

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absti·nent adj.

absti·nent·ly adv.

Synonyms: abstinence, self-denial, temperance, sobriety, continence
These nouns refer to restraint of one's appetites or desires. Abstinence implies the willful avoidance of pleasures, especially of food and drink, thought to be harmful or self-indulgent: "I vainly reminded him of his protracted abstinence from food" Emily Brontë.
Self-denial suggests resisting one's own desires for the achievement of a higher goal: I practiced self-denial to provide for my family's needs.
Temperance refers to moderation and self-restraint and sobriety to gravity in bearing, manner, or treatment; both nouns denote moderation in or abstinence from the consumption of alcoholic liquor: Teetotalers preach temperance for everyone. "those moments which would come between the subsidence of actual sobriety and the commencement of intoxication" Anthony Trollope.
Continence specifically refers to abstention from sexual activity: The nun took a vow of continence.

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abstinence

Noun

the practice of choosing not to do something one would like

abstinent adj

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abstinence

a voluntary and habitual self-deprivation, especially from alcoholic beverages. — abstinent, adj.

See also: Alcohol

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	abstinence - the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol) abstention self-denial, self-discipline - the trait of practicing self discipline
	2.	abstinence - act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite chastity, sexual abstention, celibacy - abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows) self-control, self-denial, self-discipline - the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses temperance, sobriety - abstaining from excess teetotaling, teetotalism - abstaining from alcohol fast, fasting - abstaining from food inhibition, suppression - (psychology) the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or desires sawm - the third pillar of Islam is fasting (primarily during the month of Ramadan); Muslims abstain from food and drink and gambling and all sensuous pleasures from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan

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abstinence

noun abstention, continence, temperance, self-denial, self-restraint, forbearance, refraining, avoidance, moderation, sobriety, asceticism, teetotalism, abstemiousness, soberness << OPPOSITE self-indulgence

Translations

abstinence [ˈæbstɪnəns] n → abstinencia

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abstinence [ˈæbstɪnəns] n → abstinence f

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abstinence [ˈæbstɪnəns] n → Enthaltsamkeit f

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abstinence [ˈæbstɪnəns] n → astinenza