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Sober vs Abstinent - What's the difference?

sober | abstinent |

As nouns the difference between sober and abstinent

is that sober is friend 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.

sober

English

Adjective

(er)
  • not drunk; not intoxicated
  • not given to excessive drinking of alcohol
  • * Book of Common Prayer
    • a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Thy holy name
  • moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled
  • * Dryden
    • No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
  • * 2005 , .
    • Which is the finest and soberest state possible.
  • dull; not bright or colorful
  • * Milton
    • Twilight grey / Had in her sober livery all things clad.
  • subdued; solemn; grave
  • * Prior
    • What parts gay France from sober Spain?
  • * Alexander Pope
    • See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.

    Synonyms

    * See also * See also * See also

    Antonyms

    * (not drunk) drunk

    Related terms

    * sobriety * sober as a judge

    See also

    * teetotaller

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (often with up ) To make or become sober.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, / And drinking largely sobers us again.
  • (often with up ) To overcome or lose a state of intoxication.
    • ''It took him hours to sober up .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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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