Abstention

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /əbˈstɛnʃən/

Definitions of abstention

noun the act of refraining from something, especially from voting

Example Sentences

A1 I practiced abstention from eating sweets for a week.

A2 She chose abstention from social media during her exams.

B1 His doctor recommended abstention from alcohol to improve his health.

B2 The politician's abstention from voting on the controversial bill raised eyebrows.

C1 The monk's life was characterized by complete abstention from material possessions.

C2 The abstention of the jury member led to a hung jury in the court case.

adjective related to the act of abstaining

Example Sentences

A1 I have an abstention attitude towards spicy food.

A2 She made an abstention decision regarding the upcoming election.

B1 The company policy encourages abstention from using personal devices during work hours.

B2 His abstention from alcohol has greatly improved his health.

C1 The abstention of the jury member influenced the final verdict.

C2 Her abstention from participating in the debate was seen as a strategic move.

Examples of abstention in a Sentence

formal The committee recorded an abstention from voting on the controversial proposal.

informal She decided to abstain from voting because she couldn't make up her mind.

slang I'm just gonna sit this one out and abstain from the whole voting process.

figurative His abstention from the argument spoke volumes about his disinterest in the topic.

Grammatical Forms of abstention

past tense

abstained

plural

abstentions

comparative

more abstinent

superlative

most abstinent

present tense

abstains

future tense

will abstain

perfect tense

has abstained

continuous tense

is abstaining

singular

abstention

positive degree

abstinent

infinitive

to abstain

gerund

abstaining

participle

abstained

Origin and Evolution of abstention

First Known Use: 1600 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'abstention' originated from the Latin word 'abstentio', which is derived from the verb 'abstineo' meaning 'to hold back'.
Evolution of the word: Initially used in the context of refraining from voting or participating in a decision, the meaning of 'abstention' has evolved to encompass a broader sense of voluntary self-restraint or avoidance of something.