Dictionary

abstainment en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin abstineōbor. Old French abstenirbor. Middle English absteynen English abstain Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -mentbor. Middle English -ment English -ment English abstainment From abstain + -ment.

Meanings

1. (rare) An act of abstaining; an abstention.
   • Criminality consists in the Intention; and the mere abstainment therefrom, through motives of hope or fear, is not Innocence; but Prudence […] 1871, Edward Nichols Dennys, The alpha, or First principle of the human mind, page 227:
   • It is the custom in the household of Atonement Day fasters of the old school to begin the evening meal, after the twenty-four hours of abstainment, with coffee and freshly baked coffee cake of every variety. 1917, Edna Ferber, Fanny herself:

Forms