Etymology of the English word abstain
the English word
abstainderived from the Old French word
abstenirderived from the Latin word
abstinere (withhold, keep away, clear)
using the Latin prefix
abs-derived from the Latin word
absderived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-derived from the Old French word
abstainderived from the Latin word
abstinere (withhold, keep away, clear)
using the Latin prefix
abs-derived from the Latin word
absderived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-Date
The earliest known usage of abstain in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
abstainer,
abstained,
abstainingCognates
French
abstenir, Latin
abstinere, Spanish
abstenerUsage
Word found in Modern English
