Crossword clues for abstinent
abstinent
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Abstinent \Ab"sti*nent\, a. [F. abstinent, L. abstinens, p. pr.
of abstinere. See Abstain.]
Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of
appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate.
--Beau. & Fl.
Abstinent \Ab"sti*nent\, n.
One who abstains.
(Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d century.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c., from Old French abstinent (earlier astenant) "moderate, abstemious, modest," from Latin abstinentem (nominative abstinens) "temperate, moderate," present participle of abstinere "to refrain from" (see abstain).
Wiktionary
Etymology 1 a. refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate. (First attested around 1350 to 1470.)(R:SOED5: page=10) Etymology 2
n. 1 One who abstains; a faster. (First attested around 1350 to 1470.) 2 (context usually capitalized religion historical English) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3rd century, and believed in abstinence towards meat and sex.
WordNet
adj. self-restraining; not indulging an appetite especially for food or drink; "not totally abstinent but abstemious" [syn: abstentious]
n. a person who refrains from drinking intoxicating beverages [syn: abstainer, nondrinker] [ant: drinker]
Usage examples of "abstinent".
We had discovered each other, Brody and I, making love anywhere and everywhere as though we had been abstinent for years.
They took away his Florsheims after 24 abstinent hours had passed and he started to perhaps D.