Meaning of abstinence | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
   countable, uncountable
2. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism).
   countable, uncountable
3. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.
   countable, uncountable
4. Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance.
   countable, uncountable
5. The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
   countable, uncountable
6. Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
   countable, obsolete, uncountable
7. Delay of spending to accrue capital.
   countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.”

“"The church teaching before Vatican II was that it was 'gravely sinful' to take 2 ounces of meat on a day of abstinence such as Friday," said the Rev. Joseph S. Rossi, a Jesuit professor of church history at Loyola College.”

CEFR level