Abstinentia

Abstinentia is a Latin noun meaning abstinence, self-restraint, or abstaining from particular pleasures. It derives from abstinere, literally “to hold away” or “to hold back” (ab- “away” + tenere “to hold”). In philosophical and religious contexts, abstinentia denotes the practice or habit of refraining from desires or indulgences to promote moral or spiritual ends.

In classical writing, abstinentia is used to discuss temperance and continence as important forms of self-governance. It appears in Latin treatises and hagiography as a practical form of virtue, often treated in relation to other ethical dispositions that regulate appetites and passions.

In Christian theology, abstinentia is associated with ascetic discipline and sexual continence. It may refer to voluntary fasting, abstaining from meat or wine, or lifelong vows of celibacy. The term is used to describe both temporary acts of renunciation and ongoing patterns of self-denial within monastic and lay life.

Modern scholarship treats abstinentia as a broad term for abstinence in Latin sources, distinct from but related to temperantia (temperance) and continencia (continence). It appears in lexica and theological works to name the practice of restraining desires across various domains, including diet, sexuality, and material indulgence.

See also: abstinence, temperance, continence.