Abstain

Verb

 * 1)  Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from.
 * 2)  To shun voluntarily.
 * 3)  Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
 * 4)  Hinder; withhold.

Adverbs for Abstain
cautiously; perniciously; carefully; systematically; firmly; voluntarily; austerely; religiously; totally; wilfully; narrowly; wholesomely; cautiously; prudently; discreetly; circumspectly; scrupulously; squeamishly; judiciously; economically; frugally; parsimoniously; sparingly; penuriously; chastely.

Thesaurus
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

Etymology
From absteynen:, abstenen:, from  astenir:, abstenir:, from  abstinere:, abstentum:; from prefix abs-: + tenere:. See tenable.

Synonyms

 * deny oneself
 * forbear
 * forgo
 * give up
 * refrain
 * relinquish
 * withhold

Derived terms

 * abstention

Translations

 * Arabic: امتنع
 * Bulgarian: въздържам се
 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:, 戒除, 棄權, 弃权
 * Czech: zdržet se
 * Danish: afholde sig fra
 * Dutch: zich onthouden (van), abstineren
 * Finnish: kieltäytyä, pidättäytyä
 * French:
 * German: sich enthalten


 * Hebrew:
 * Italian:
 * Japanese: 慎む, 差し控える
 * Norwegian: avholde seg
 * Novial: abstina
 * Russian: воздержаться (от (ot) + genitive case),  воздерживаться (от (ot) + genitive case)
 * Slovene: vzdržati se
 * Spanish:
 * West Frisian: jin ôfsetten fan


 * Czech: zdržet se
 * Danish: afholde sig fra (at stemme)
 * Dutch: zich onthouden (van stemming)
 * Finnish: kieltäytyä
 * German: sich enthalten
 * Italian:


 * Japanese: 投票を棄権する
 * Novial: abstina
 * Polish: wstrzymać się
 * Russian: воздержаться,  воздерживаться
 * Spanish:


 * Danish:
 * Dutch:
 * Finnish: estää
 * German:


 * Novial: abstina
 * Spanish:
 * West Frisian: keare, behinderje, ferhinderje


 * : להימנע (lehimana')

Anagrams

 * Bastian