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  1. abstain love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To refrain from something by one's own choice: abstain from traditional political rhetoric. See Synonyms at refrain1.
  2. v. To refrain from voting: Forty senators voted in favor of the bill, 45 voted against it, and 15 abstained.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. To forbear or refrain voluntarily, especially from what gratifies the passions or appetites: used with from: as, to abstain from the use of ardent spirits; to abstain from luxuries.
  2. To hinder; obstruct; debar; cause to keep away from: as, “abstain men from marrying,” Milton.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from.
  2. v. To hinder; to withhold.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. choose not to consume
  2. v. refrain from voting

Etymologies

  1. Middle English absteinen, to avoid, from Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinēre, to hold back : abs-, ab-, away; see ab-1 + tenēre, to hold; see ten- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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‘abstain’ has been looked up 3222 times, loved by 3 people, added to 39 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 9.