Abstain
/əbˈsteɪn/
Definitions
to choose not to do something, especially for moral, health, or religious reasons
/əbˈsteɪn/
to refrain from something
He abstained from eating meat during Lent.
💡 Simply: to stop or avoid doing something
More Examples
The company will abstain from making any new investments until the economy recovers.
How It's Used
"The doctor advised the patient to abstain from smoking and heavy drinking."
"She decided to abstain from voting in the election due to her lack of faith in the candidates."
Idioms & expressions
abstain from food
to fast or give up eating
"During Ramadan, many Muslims abstain from food from dawn to sunset."
From Latin 'absteneri', meaning 'to withhold or refrain from', which is a combination of 'abs-' (from) and 'tenere' (to hold).
In the past, 'abstain' was often used in the context of religious fasting or abstinence.
Memory tip
Abstain: A Better Step To Avoid Immoral Negativity Inside Nirvana
Practice
Word Origin
Root: ab-