abstain

Etymology

First attested around 1380. From Middle English absteynen, absteinen, abstenen, from Old French astenir, abstenir, from Latin abstineō (“to hold oneself back”) from abs- (“from”) + teneō (“I hold”). See also tenable.

verb

1. (transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.
2. (intransitive) Refrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence.
   In order to improve his health, Rob decided to abstain from smoking.
   The Security Council […] calls upon all Governments and authorities, without prejudice to the rights, claims or positions of the parties concerned, to abstain from any hostile military action in Palestine and to that end to issue a cease-fire order to their military and paramilitary forces 22 May 1948, United Nations, Security Council Resolution 49
   Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? 1597, Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i
3. (intransitive, obsolete) Fast (not eat for a period).
4. (intransitive) Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
   […]forcing a small portion of the population to abstain from voting 1913, Thomas Babington Macaulay, A Short History of English Liberalism
   I abstain from this vote, as I have no particular preference.
5. (transitive, obsolete) Hinder; keep back; withhold.
   Whether he abstain men from marying [sic]. 1645, John Milton, Tetrachordon: Expositions on the four chief places in Scripture