Ăb'sti-nençe, n.

n. [Lat. abstinentia, Fr. abstinence, Pr. abstinencia, abstinensa.] The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal propensities.

The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain, nay, oftentimes, a very great one. Locke.

Penance, fasts, and abstinence, To punish bodies for the soul's offense. Dryden.

Total abstinence, an entire refraining from intoxicating liquors.