Abstinence
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Abstinence is a noun meaning The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
Meaning
The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
More Meanings
- The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
- (business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.
- (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
Example Sentences
Near-synonyms: abstentiousness, abstemiousness
Penance, Faſts, and Abſtinence, / To puniſh Bodies for the Souls offence.
The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one.
These five short films by San Francisco artist James Broughton, reveal to the viewer the artistic changes undergone by the artist during his 15-year abstinence from filmmaking.
Word Forms
- abstinences
- abstinency
Synonyms for abstinence
Depending on context, synonyms include abstention, abstentiousness, abstemiousness.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include abstention, sobriety, celibacy, refraining, forbearance, withdrawal.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.