abstention

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English

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Etymology

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First attested in 1521. Borrowed from French abstention, from Late Latin abstēntiō from Latin abstinēō (withhold, to abstain)

Pronunciation

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  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əbˈstɛn.ʃn̩/
  • (US) IPA(key): /æbˈstɛn.ʃn̩/, /əbˈstɛn.ʃn̩/, /æbˈstɛn.t͡ʃn̩/, /əbˈstɛn.t͡ʃn̩/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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abstention (countable and uncountable, plural abstentions)

  1. (obsolete) The act of restraining oneself. [Attested from the early 16th century until the med 17th century.]
  2. The act of abstaining or refraining (from). [First attested in the early 17th century.]
    abstention from alcohol
    abstention from sex
  3. The act of declining to vote on a particular issue. [First attested in the late 19th century.]
    There were five abstentions in the vote.
  4. Non-participation in the political world; as a country avoiding international affairs.

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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References

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French

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Late Latin abstentiōnem, from Latin abstentus, from abstineō.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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abstention f (plural abstentions)

  1. abstention
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Descendants

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  • English: abstention

Further reading

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