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Abstain vs Curb - What's the difference?

abstain | curb |

In lang=en terms the difference between abstain and curb

is that abstain is deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present while curb is to crouch; to cringe.

As verbs the difference between abstain and curb

is that abstain is (transitive|reflexive|obsolete) keep or withhold oneself
while curb is to check, restrain or control.

As a noun curb is

(north america) a row of concrete along the edge of a road; a kerb (uk ).

abstain

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.
  • Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites.
  • * Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? - Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i
  • (obsolete) Fast.
  • Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
  • * Not a few abstained from voting. -
  • (obsolete) Hinder; keep back; withhold.
  • * Whether he abstain men from marying [sic]. -
  • Usage notes

    * (keep or withhold oneself) Followed by the word from' or ' of . * (refrain from something) Followed by the word from .

    Synonyms

    * deny oneself * forbear * forgo * give up * refrain * relinquish * withhold

    Derived terms

    * abstention

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    curb

    English

    Alternative forms

    * kerb (British)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (North America) A row of concrete along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK )
  • A raised margin along the edge of something, such as a well or the eye of a dome, as a strengthening.
  • Something that checks or restrains; a restraint.
  • * Denham
  • By these men, religion, that should be / The curb , is made the spur of tyranny.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=April 19 , author=Josh Halliday , title=Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised? , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=She maintains that the internet should face similar curbs to TV because young people are increasingly living online. "It's totally different, someone at Google watching the video from the comfort of their office in San Francisco to someone from a council house in London, where this video is happening right outside their front door."}}
  • A riding or driving bit for a horse that has rein action which amplifies the pressure in the mouth by leverage advantage placing pressure on the poll via the crown piece of the bridle and chin groove via a curb chain.
  • * Drayton
  • He that before ran in the pastures wild / Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws.
  • (North America) A sidewalk, covered or partially enclosed, bordering the airport terminal road system with an adjacent paved areas to permit vehicles to off-load or load passengers.
  • A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.
  • Derived terms

    * curb appeal * curb service * roof curb

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To check, restrain or control.
  • * "Curb your dog."
  • * Prior
  • Where pinching want must curb thy warm desires.
  • To rein in.
  • To furnish with a curb, as a well; to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.
  • To force to "bite the curb" (hit the pavement curb); see curb stomp.
  • To damage vehicle wheels or tires by running into or over a pavement curb.
  • To bend or curve.
  • * Holland
  • crooked and curbed lines
  • To crouch; to cringe.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, / Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.