Abstain
/əbˈsteɪn/noun
To restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.
Did you know?In ancient times, abstaining was often part of sacred rites, believed to invoke divine favor or protection by denying oneself worldly pleasures.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sta-
“to stand, to stay”
Latin
Latin
abstainere
“to hold back, to keep away from”
Old French
Old French
absteindre
“to restrain, to abstain”
14th Century
Middle English
absteynen
“to refrain from, to withhold”
Modern English
English
abstain
“to voluntarily refrain from an action or enjoyment”