pidättymään

Pidättymään is a Finnish verb meaning to abstain, refrain, or hold back. It is the third infinitive form of the verb pidättyä, which carries a similar meaning. This form is often used in contexts where a person or entity is consciously choosing not to engage in a particular action, substance, or behavior.

The verb can be applied to various situations. For example, someone might pidättymään alcohol consumption, indicating abstention from drinking. It can also refer to refraining from speaking, acting, or even expressing a certain emotion. In a legal or official context, it might mean to abstain from voting or to refrain from participating in a decision. The core idea is a deliberate act of withholding oneself from something.

The word pidättymään is composed of the root "pidä-" which relates to holding or keeping, and the suffix "-ttymään", indicating the infinitive form of a reflexive verb. This etymology highlights the idea of holding oneself back or keeping oneself from something. Understanding this verb is key to grasping nuances of self-control and intentional non-action in the Finnish language.