abstemiousness

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US/æbˈsti.mi.əs.nəs/US/əbˈsti.mi.əs.nəs/

noun

The quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing, particularly in the use of food and strong drinks.

Similar
abstentiousnesssoberness
First used early 17th c.Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounabstemiousness (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing, particularly in the use of food and strong drinks.First known use early 17th c.

    He was temperate in his meals and diversions, but always kept a little on this side of abstemiousness. Only in the use of the Indian weed he might be thought a little excessive.

    1833, [Charles Lamb], “Preface. By a Friend of the Late Elia.”, in The Last Essays of Elia. […], London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page ix

    Synonyms: abstentiousness, soberness

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing, particularly in the use of food and strong drinks.

Similar
abstentiousnesssoberness
Also see
abstentiousnessabstinence

Origin

From abstemious + -ness.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch onthouding, gematigheid
  • onthoudingausterity
  • gematigheidausterity
Esperanto abstemio, abstinado
  • abstemioausterity
  • abstinadoausterity
  • ŝparemoausterity
Cite this entry
APA

abstemiousness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstemiousness

MLA

“abstemiousness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstemiousness. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abstemiousness,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstemiousness.

Source: abstemiousness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.