Abstinere

Abstinere is a Latin verb meaning to abstain, refrain, or withhold, especially from something desirable, harmful, or forbidden. The term reflects the idea of holding away from a course of action or from indulgence. It is built from the prefix ab- (away) and tenere (to hold), yielding the sense of keeping something away from oneself.

In classical Latin, abstinere is treated as a second-conjugation -ere verb with principal parts abstineo, abstinere, abstinui, abstentum. The infinitive form is abstinere; forms in the present, imperfect, and other tenses follow the standard -ere conjugation patterns of the era. The word appears in various syntactic constructions to express avoidance or self-restraint and is related to the noun abstinentia (abstinence) and the adjective abstinentus (abstinent).

Usage and nuance: abstinere conveys self-restraint or deliberate avoidance rather than mere refusal. It can denote abstaining from food, drink, or activities, as well as refraining from certain actions or passions. The sense is common in moral, philosophical, and religious Latin, including ascetic or ethical discourse. In Latin prose and poetry, the verb can appear in contexts describing discipline, temperance, or renunciation.

Related terms: abstinentia (abstinence), abstinentus (abstinent), and English derivatives such as abstinence and abstinent. The concept remains a recurring theme in studies of ancient ethics, philosophy, and early Christian Latin.

See also: abstinence, abstinent, asceticism.