English
abstention
Abstention comes from Late Latin abstēntiō ‘abstention, abstaining’, from Latin teneō ‘hold’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch, extend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tn̥eh₁yétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tenēō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEteneō‘hold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabstinēō‘withhold, to abstain’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEabstēntiō‘abstention, abstaining’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentabstention
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch, extend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tn̥eh₁yétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*tenēō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEteneō‘hold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabstinēō‘withhold, to abstain’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEabstēntiō‘abstention, abstaining’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentabstention
- Englishtodaysame form
first attested First attested in 1521 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1521.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’
obtain, tight, tone, tune, entertainment, maintenance, ton, tender, tonic, pristine, pertinent, tendon, tetanus, tenacious, countenance, tantra, maintainer, tendinitis, hypotenuse, retentive, 63 more
through Proto-Italic *tenēō ‘to hold’
container, incontinent, 19 more
through Latin teneō ‘hold’
continue, content, contain, retain, tennis, continuous, sustain, continent, rein, tenant, detain, detention, tenor, continuum, retention, pertain, tenacity, tenet, sustenance, retinue, incontinence, tenement, tenable, continence, 21 more
through Latin abstinēō ‘withhold, to abstain’
Today it means
noun The act of restraining oneself.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ten- / abstention