# abstinence
## English
### Alternative forms

* abstinency

### Etymology

From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain +‎ -ence.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈæb.stɪ.nəns/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Hyphenation: ab‧sti‧nence

### Noun

abstinence (countable and uncountable, plural abstinences)
* The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]
** 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 11:Penance, Faſts, and Abſtinence, / To puniſh Bodies for the Souls offence.
** 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one.
** 1981 August 22, Larry Goldsmith, “Lesbian and Gay Independents”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 6, page 10: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.
** Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism). [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]
** Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]
    Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.
** (ecclesiastical) Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]
*** 1995 September 18, Rafael Alvarez, “Catholics asked to avoid eating meat on Fridays Cardinal suggests abstinence in weeks leading up to Pope's visit”, in Baltimore Sun‎:"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.
* (Should we delete this sense?) The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
* (Should we delete this sense?) (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]
* (business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.

#### Derived terms

* abstinence of war
* abstinence only
* abstinence ring
* abstinence syndrome
* abstinence theory
* abstinency
* fapstinence
* inabstinence
* neonatal abstinence syndrome

#### See also

* abstention
* asexual
* continence

### References

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “abstinence”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 10.
* “abstinence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

## French
### Etymology

Inherited from Middle French abstinence, from Old French abstinence, borrowed from Latin abstinentia.

### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)

### Noun

abstinence f (plural abstinences)
* abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)
* abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from alcohol)
* abstinence (specifically act or practice of abstaining from sexual relations)

#### Related terms

* abstinent
* abstenir
* abstention

### Further reading

* “abstinence”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

## Middle French
### Etymology

From Old French abstinence.

### Noun

abstinence f (plural abstinences)
* abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)

#### Descendants

* French: abstinence

## Old French
### Alternative forms

* abstinance, astenance, astinence, austinance, austinence

### Etymology

Borrowed from Latin abstinentia, at least in this form (some of the variants may only be semi-learned); later modified to bring it in line with the Latin etymon.

### Noun

abstinence oblique singular, f (oblique plural abstinences, nominative singular abstinence, nominative plural abstinences)
* abstinence (act or practice of abstaining)

#### Descendants

* Middle English: abstinence
** English: abstinence
* Middle French: abstinence
** French: abstinence