əbzˈtān, ab-, -bˈst- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English absteinen, abstenen, from Middle French abstenir, from Latin abstinēre, from abs- (variant of ab- ab (I)) + tenēre to hold — more at thin
intransitive verb
: to withhold oneself from participation : refrain voluntarily : withhold oneself deliberately from an action
a vote of nine million in favor, eight million against, and nine million abstaining — E.J.Knapton
: forbear — often used with from
they abstained from comment
a lifelong pledge to abstain from drinking — M.V.Reidy
transitive verb
obsolete : withhold
Synonyms: see refrain