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- pronunciation:
 b
steIn
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
abstains, abstaining, abstained |
| definition 1: |
to choose to refrain from something, esp. from actions or things considered to be unhealthy or unwise.
She generally abstains from alcohol, but she indulged in a glass of champagne on this occasion.His wife's dress was indeed unflattering, but he abstained from giving his opinion.- synonyms:
- forbear, refrain, withhold
- antonyms:
- indulge, overindulge, partake
- similar words:
- decline, desist, fast, keep, quit, teetotal
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| definition 2: |
in parliamentary process, to refrain from casting a vote.
The senator was expected to vote in favor of the measure, but instead she abstained.- antonyms:
- vote
- similar words:
- decline, forbear, refrain, withhold
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| related words: |
sober |
adverb + (v.)abstain
either, simply, totally
(v.)abstain
+ adverb
altogether, completely, regularly
(v.)abstain
+ noun
activity,
alcohol,
beverage,
caffeine,
consumption,
drink,
drinking,
drug,
exercise,
food,
intercourse,
marriage,
meat,
participation,
pleasure,
relation,
resolution,
sex,
smoking,
substance,
use,
vote,
voting,
wine
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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The word abstain
contains the following parts:
ab-, abs-
Latin
prefix
that means from, away from
  More about this word part:
Most words containing the prefix ab-
, abs-
are Latin loanwords, so the bases are Latin roots. ab-
becomes abs-
before bases beginning with "t," such as "tract."
Example words:
abbreviate, abbreviation, abdicate, abduct, aberrant, aberration, abhor, abject, abjure, ablate, ablation, abnormal, abolish, aborigine, abrade, abrasion, abrasive, abrupt, abscond, absence, absent, absolute, absolve, absorb, abstain, abstract, abnegate, abuse, abusive
ten, tin, tain
Latin
root
that means to hold
Example words:
abstain, abstinence, appertain, attain, contain, container, content, contention, continent, continual, continue, continuous, detain, detention, impertinent, incontinent, lieutenant, maintain, maintenance, obtain, pertain, pertinacious, pertinacity, pertinent, retain, retentive, retinue, sustain, tenable, tenacious, tenacity, tenant, tenement, tenet, tennis, tenor, tenure
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