Definitions for Abstinence
ˈæb stə nənsab·sti·nence

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.5 / 2 votes

1. abstinence, abstentionnoun

   the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)

2. abstinencenoun

   act or practice of refraining from indulging an appetite

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. abstinencenoun

   The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire.

2. abstinencenoun

   Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages (also called total abstinence, teetotalism).

3. abstinencenoun

   Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.

4. abstinencenoun

   The practice of self-denial by depriving one's self (partly or totally) of certain kinds of food or drink, especially meat.

   Penance, fasts, and abstinence, / To punish bodies for the soul's offense. - John Dryden

5. abstinencenoun

   Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance.

6. Etymology: * First attested in 1340.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Abstinencenoun

   Etymology: abstinentia, Lat.

   1. Forbearance of any thing; with the particle from.

   Because the abstinence from a present pleasure, that offers itself, is a pain, nay, oftentimes a very great one: it is no wonder that that operates after the same manner pain does, and lessens, in our thoughts, what is future; and so forces us, as it were, blindfold into its embraces. John Locke.

   2. Fasting, or forbearance of necessary food. It is generally distinguished from temperance, as the greater degree from the less; sometimes as single performances from habits; as, a day of abstinence, and a life of temperance.

   Say, can you fast? your stomachs are too young:
   And abstinence ingenders maladies. William Shakespeare, Love’s Lab. Lost.

   Religious men, who hither must be sent
   As awful guides of heavenly government;
   To teach you penance, fasts, and abstinence,
   To punish bodies for the souls offence. John Dryden, Ind. Emp.

   And the faces of them, which have used abstinence, shall shine above the stars; whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness. 2 Esdras, vii. 55.

2. Abstinencynoun

   The same with Abstinence.

   Were our rewards for the abstinencies, or riots, of this present life, under the prejudices of short or finite, the promises and threats of Christ would lose much of their virtue and energy. Henry Hammond, Fundam.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. abstinence

   Abstinence is the practice of refraining or deliberately abstaining from indulging in an activity, behavior or substance, often for health, personal, moral or social reasons. This often applies to things that may be addictive or harmful, such as alcohol, drugs, or sexual intercourse.

2. abstinence

   Abstinence refers to the act of voluntarily and consciously refraining or avoiding participation in a specific activity or indulgence, particularly those considered harmful or undesirable. This could refer to activities such as sexual activity, consumption of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or certain types of food. It often has connotations with self-discipline or self-control.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Abstinencenoun

   the act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, -- called also total abstinence

2. Abstinencenoun

   the practice of self-denial by depriving one's self of certain kinds of food or drink, especially of meat

3. Etymology: [F. abstinence, L. abstinentia, fr. abstinere. See Abstain.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Abstinence

   Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstinence from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions and practical considerations. Abstinence may also refer to drugs. For example you can abstain from smoking. Abstinence has diverse forms. Commonly it refers to a temporary or partial abstinence from food, as in fasting. In the twelve-step program of Overeaters Anonymous abstinence is the term for refraining from compulsive eating, akin in meaning to sobriety for alcoholics. Because the regimen is intended to be a conscious act, freely chosen to enhance life, abstinence is sometimes distinguished from the psychological mechanism of repression. The latter is an unconscious state, having unhealthy consequences. Freud termed the channeling of sexual energies into other more culturally or socially acceptable activities, "sublimation".

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon WurdzRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ABSTINENCE

   From the Persian _ab_, water, and _stein_, or tankard. Hence, water-tankard, or "water wagon."

Matched Categories

1. • Self-denial
   • Self-discipline

How to pronounce Abstinence?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Abstinence in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Abstinence in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Abstinence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of Abstinence in a Sentence

1. James Burke:

   Courtly love-poetry may first have been written during long periods of abstinence on the Crusades, but it would not have flourished in the cold of northern Europe without some help from the chimney.

2. Alex Azar:

   Neonatal abstinence syndrome is one of the most heartbreaking parts of the opioid crisis.

3. Voltaire:

   Use, do not abuse neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.

4. Jordan Shapiro:

   We know abstinence sex education doesn't work and creates unhealthy sexual relationships. So why are we taking a similar approach with screen time ?

5. Cora Breuner:

   Not only do kids have sex when you have an abstinence-only curriculum, they get pregnant more than those who have a comprehensive sexual education.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Abstinence
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Abstinence
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Abstinence
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Abstinence
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Abstinence
7. ^ The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1989/pg1989-images.html#:~:text=Abstinence