abstain

abstain
    v 1: refrain from voting
    2: choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" [syn:
       {abstain}, {refrain}, {desist}] [ant: {consume}, {have},
       {ingest}, {take}, {take in}]
    

Abstain \Ab*stain"\, v. t.
   To hinder; to withhold.
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         Whether he abstain men from marrying.    --Milton.
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Abstain \Ab*stain"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Abstained}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Abstaining}.] [OE. absteynen, abstenen, OF. astenir,
   abstenir, F. abstenir, fr. L. abstinere, abstentum, v. t. &
   v. i., to keep from; ab, abs + tenere to hold. See
   {Tenable}.]
   To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily,
   and especially from an indulgence of the passions or
   appetites; -- with from.
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         Not a few abstained from voting.         --Macaulay.
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         Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? --Shak.
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   Syn: To refrain; forbear; withhold; deny one's self; give up;
        relinquish.
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45 Moby Thesaurus words for "abstain":
      abnegate, abstain from, avoid, constrain, cop out, curb, decline,
      dispense with, do without, duck the issue, eschew, evade,
      evade the issue, forbear, forgo, hold, hold aloof from, hold back,
      hold off, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in hand, let alone,
      let go by, never touch, not touch, not use, pass up, refrain,
      refrain from, refuse, reject, reserve, save, shun, sit it out,
      spare, spurn, stand aloof from, stand neuter, straddle, trim,
      waive, withhold