Definitions for abstainæbˈsteɪn
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
ab•stainæbˈsteɪn(v.i.)
to refrain voluntarily, esp. from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usu. fol. by from):
to abstain from eating meat.
to refrain from casting one's vote:
Two delegates abstained.
Category: Government
Origin of abstain:
1350–1400; ME < MF abstenir蠐 L abstinēre=abs-abs - +-tinēre, comb. form of tenēre to hold, keep
ab•stain′er(n.)
Princeton's WordNet
abstain(verb)
refrain from voting
abstain, refrain, desist(verb)
choose not to consume
"I abstain from alcohol"
Wiktionary
abstain(Verb)
Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from.
abstain(Verb)
To shun voluntarily.
abstain(Verb)
Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
abstain(Verb)
Hinder; withhold.
Origin: * First attested around 1380.
Webster Dictionary
Abstain(verb)
to hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from
Abstain(verb)
to hinder; to withhold
Translations for abstain
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary
abstain(verb)
(often with from ) not to do, take etc
He abstained (from voting in the election); He abstained from alcohol.
- onthouAfrikaans
- يمتنع عن، يُمسك عنArabic
- въздържам сеBulgarian
- abster-sePortuguese (BR)
- zdržet se, zdržovat seCzech
- sich enthaltenGerman
- afstå (fra); afholde sig (fra)Danish
- απέχω, δε συμμετέχωGreek
- abstenerse (de)Spanish
- hoidumaEstonian
- خودداری کردنFarsi
- pidättäytyäFinnish
- s'abstenir (de)French
- לְהִמָנַע ,לְהִימָנַעHebrew
- परहेज करना/से दूर रहनाHindi
- apstiniratiCroatian
- tartózkodik vmitőlHungarian
- pantang, tidak memberikan suaraIndonesian
- sitja hjá; halda sig fráIcelandic
- astenersiItalian
- 控えるJapanese
- 절제하다, 기권하다Korean
- susilaikytiLithuanian
- atturētiesLatvian
- dikecualikanMalay
- zich onthoudenDutch
- avstå fra; avholde seg fraNorwegian
- wstrzymywać sięPolish
- خودداری کردنPersian
- د يو كار نه كولPashto
- abster-sePortuguese
- a se abţine (de la)Romanian
- воздерживаться (от)Russian
- zdržať saSlovak
- vzdržati seSlovenian
- uzdržavati seSerbian
- avhålla sig, avståSwedish
- ไม่ลงคะแนนเสียง; งดThai
- çekimser kalmak, kaçmak, uzak durmakTurkish
- 放棄，戒除Chinese (Trad.)
- стримуватися, утримуватисяUkrainian
- الگ رہنا ، پرہیز کرناUrdu
- tránh làm gì; kiêngVietnamese
- 戒除，弃权Chinese (Simp.)
Get even more translations for abstain »
Citation
Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:
"abstain." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/abstain>.