I. -nənt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin abstinent-, abstinens, present participle of abstinēre to abstain — more at abstain
: practicing abstinence : abstemious , continent , temperate
• ab·sti·nent·ly adverb
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from abstinent, adjective
1. : one that abstains
2. usually capitalized : one of a 4th century Christian ascetic sect in southwestern Europe that rejected meat eating and held that the relation between the sexes should be purely spiritual — compare priscillianist