ab ‧ sten ‧ tion /əbˈstenʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: abstentio , from Latin abstinere ; ⇨ ↑ abstain ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] an act of not voting for or against something:
The draft law was passed by 134 votes to 19, with 5 abstentions.
2 . [uncountable] formal when you do not do something you enjoy doing
abstention from
fasting and abstention from intoxicating drinks