| Part of Speech | Definition | |
| Verb | 1. To forbear.
[Eve - graph theoretic] 2. To cease, quit, discontinue, desist or stop. [Eve - graph theoretic] 3. To eschew, avoid, shun or avert. [Eve - graph theoretic] 4. To flinch or shrink. [Eve - graph theoretic] 5. To evade, obviate, sidestep, dodge or elude.[Eve - graph theoretic] 6. Present participle conjugation of the verb abstain.[Eve - graph theoretic] | |
| Verb Base (abstain) | 1. Refrain from voting.[Wordnet]. 2. Choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol".[Wordnet]. 3. To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from.[Websters]. 4. To hinder; to withhold.[Websters]. 5. Base verb from the following inflections: abstaining, abstained, abstains, abstainer, abstainers, abstainingly and abstainedly.[Eve - graph theoretic] | |
Sources: compiled from various sources, (under license) copyright 2008. | Top | |
Date "ABSTAINING" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1350. (references) |
Specialty Definition: abstain
| Domain | Definition | ||
| Noah Webster | [Verb] In a general sense, to forbear, or refrain from, voluntarily; but used chiefly to denote a restraint upon the passions or appetites; to refrain from indulgence. Abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts, xv. To abstain from the use of ardent spirits; to abstain from luxuries.. Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary. | ||
| Wiktionary | 1: [Verb] (intransitive) Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present. (references) | 2: [Verb] (intransitive) Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from. (references) | 3: [Verb] (intransitive) To shun voluntarily. Not a few abstained from voting. - Macaulay Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? - Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i. (references) | 4: [Verb] (transitive) Hinder; withhold. Whether he abstain men from marrying. - Milton. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
