English
abstinence
Abstinence comes from Latin abstinēns ‘abstaining’, from abstineō ‘to withhold’, 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 CEabstineō‘to withhold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabstinēns‘abstaining’present participle of abstineō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabstinentia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400abstinence
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1665same 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 CEabstineō‘to withhold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabstinēns‘abstaining’present participle of abstineō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEabstinentia
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400abstinence
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1665same form
Earliest quotation: 1665, John Dryden: “Penance, Faſts, and Abſtinence, / To puniſh Bodies for…”
Formed from abstain + -ence
Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, draw’
…
Latin teneō ‘to hold’
Latin abstineō ‘to hold oneself back’
Old French astenir
Middle English absteynen ‘to avoid, stay away from, refrain from…’
English abstain
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’
tight, entertainment, ton, tone, obtain, tune, maintenance, tender, tonic, tendon, tenacious, tetanus, pertinent, pristine, tantra, countenance, maintainer, hypotenuse, tendinitis, retentive, 64 more
through Proto-Italic *tenēō ‘to hold’
container, incontinent, 20 more
through Latin teneō ‘hold’
content, continue, contain, tennis, retain, continuous, detention, sustain, tenant, retention, continent, tenor, rein, continuum, detain, tenacity, pertain, tenet, tenement, sustenance, retinue, incontinence, tenable, continence, 22 more
through Latin abstineō ‘to withhold’
Today it means
noun The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ten- / abstinence