/əbˈsteɪn/
[verb] To choose not to do something, especially something you enjoy or something you have the right to do, such as voting or eating certain foods.
'Abstain' literally means 'to hold yourself away' — as if your willpower is a hand pulling you back from temptation.
The word 'abstain' traces its roots to classical Latin, where the verb 'abstinēre' meant 'to hold back' or 'to keep away from.' This Latin verb was itself a compound of two parts: the prefix 'abs-', meaning 'away from,' and 'tenēre', meaning 'to hold.' That root 'tenēre' was extraordinarily productive in Latin — it gave rise to dozens of words that passed into English through various paths, all carrying some sense of holding or grasping.
The Latin 'tenēre' branched out in many directions on its journey into English. Through Old French 'tenir' it became 'tenet' (a belief one holds firm) and 'tenure' (the holding of a position). Through Latin 'continēre' → Old French 'contenir' → Middle English came 'contain.' Through Latin 'retinēre' → Old French 'retenir' → English came 'retain.' Each of these words carries the ghost of that original Latin hand, gripping something tightly.
'Abstinēre' entered Old French as 'abstenir', and it was from this Old French form that Middle English borrowed 'absteynen' or 'absteinen' in the late 14th century. The spelling gradually settled into the modern 'abstain' over the following two centuries, as English spelling conventions slowly stabilised after the introduction of the printing press.
When the word first appeared in English, it was used primarily in religious and moral contexts. Medieval Christians were expected to abstain from meat on Fridays, from food during fasting periods, and from sinful behaviour at all times. The word carried a strong flavour of spiritual discipline — the idea that a virtuous person actively holds themselves away from worldly pleasures. This religious weight is why the related noun 'abstinence' so often appears in discussions of fasting, sobriety, and self-denial.
Over time, the word expanded beyond purely religious life. By the 17th and 18th centuries, 'abstain' was being used in political contexts — particularly to describe the act of choosing not to vote in an election or parliamentary decision. This is now one of its most common uses: to abstain in a vote means you are present but deliberately hold yourself away from committing to either side. The physical image buried inside the word — a person literally pulling themselves back — remains as vivid and accurate today as it was in ancient Rome.