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Abstain vs Re - What's the difference?

abstain | re |

As a verb abstain

is (transitive|reflexive|obsolete) keep or withhold oneself .

As a proper noun re is

an island off the west coast of france, by la rochelle.

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

    *

    re

    English

    (wikipedia re)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • About, regarding, with reference to; especially in letters and documents.
  • Derived terms
    * in re * in rem

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (-)
  • Ray]], a syllable used in [[solfège to represent the second note of a major scale.
  • Etymology 3

    (en)

    Noun

    (-)
  • Reinsurance.