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Abstinence vs Abstinent - What's the difference?

abstinence | abstinent |

As nouns the difference between abstinence and abstinent

is that abstinence is the act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite while abstinent is (usually|capitalized|religion|historical) one of a sect who appeared in france and spain in the 3rd century, and believed in abstinence towards meat and sex.

abstinence

English

(wikipedia abstinence)

Alternative forms

* abstinency

Noun

(-)
  • The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
    • Penance, fasts, and abstinence , / To punish bodies for the soul's offense. -
    The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. —
    Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. —
  • # Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism).
  • # Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.
  • # (ecclesiastical) Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance.
  • The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
  • (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
  • (business) Delay of spending to accrue capital.

    • See also

    * abstention * continence * asexual

    References

    * ----

    abstinent

    English

    Etymology 1

    * First attested in the late 14th century. From (etyl), from (etyl) abstinent, from (etyl) . * See abstain

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate.
    • (Beaumont and Fletcher)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) abstinent (adjective form).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who abstains; a faster.
  • (usually, capitalized, religion, historical) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3rd century, and believed in abstinence towards meat and sex.

    • References

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