abstain

present singular third person abstains · participle present abstaining · participle past abstained · past abstained · first person past singular abstained · archaic present second person singular abstainest · past second person singular abstained · archaic past second person singular abstainedst · present singular third person abstains · archaic present singular third person abstaineth · past singular third person abstained · past plural abstained · past subjunctive abstained · participle present abstaining · participle past abstained

1. obsoletereflexivetransitiveKeep or withhold oneself.First known use Attested from around 1350 to 1470 until the mid 16ᵗʰ century.
2. intransitiveRefrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence.First known use First attested around 1350 to 1470.

   In order to improve his health, Rob decided to abstain from smoking.

   2 more examples

   Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt?

   1597, Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i

   The Security Council […] calls upon all Governments and authorities, without prejudice to the rights, claims or positions of the parties concerned, to abstain from any hostile military action in Palestine and to that end to issue a cease-fire order to their military and paramilitary forces

   22 May 1948, United Nations, Security Council Resolution 49

   1. intransitiveTo refrain from drinking alcohol.

      … she had made Bunting abstain very early in their acquaintance. … Glad she was now that he had taken the pledge as a younger man; but for that nothing would have kept him from the drink during the bad times they had gone through.

      1913, Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes, The Lodger

3. intransitiveobsoleteFast (not eat for a period).First known use First attested around 1350 to 1470.
4. intransitiveDeliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.First known use First attested around 1350 to 1470.

   I abstain from this vote, as I have no particular preference.

   1 more example

   […]forcing a small portion of the population to abstain from voting

   1913, Thomas Babington Macaulay, A Short History of English Liberalism

5. obsoletetransitiveHinder; keep back; withhold.First known use Attested from the early 16ᵗʰ century until the mid 17ᵗʰ century.

   Whether he abstain men from marying [sic].

   1645, John Milton, Tetrachordon: Expositions on the four chief places in Scripture