Avholdt

Avholdt is a Norwegian term used as the past participle of the verb avholde, meaning to abstain, refrain, or keep away from. It can function as an adjective describing someone who has abstained, or as part of a verbal phrase to indicate an action performed in the past. The form is used in both Bokmål and Nynorsk contexts, though spelling and usage may vary with dialect and register.

Etymology and form: Avholde is formed from the prefix av- meaning away or off, combined with holde meaning to hold. The past participle avholdt yields constructions such as avholdt seg and avholdt seg fra, conveying deliberate restraint or abstention. The reflexive form avholde seg is the standard way to express one’s own abstention or restraint.

Usage and examples: Avholdt is commonly used in formal or journalistic Norwegian to describe abstention in voting or participation. Examples include: "Representantene avholdt seg fra å stemme under avstemningen" meaning the representatives abstained from voting, and "Partiet avholdt seg fra å delta i debatten" meaning the party did not participate in the debate. The reflexive form avholde seg is frequently preferred when the subject is choosing not to act.

Alternatives and nuances: Synonyms such as avstå or holde seg unna exist, but avholde carries a nuance of deliberate restraint or abstention rather than mere avoidance. Avholdt can also appear as a predicate adjective in contexts describing someone who has abstained in a specific instance.

See also: Abstention, abstain, hold back, voting behavior.