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. Etym: [L., without this.] (Law) The technical words of denial used in traversing what has been alleged, and is repeated.

, and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from. Not a few abstained from voting. Macaulay. Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt Shak.

One who abstains; esp., one who abstains from the use of intoxicating liquors.

Abstaining from wine. [Orig. Latin sense.] Under his special eye Abstemious I grew up and thrived amain. Milton.

The quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing in the use of food and strong drinks. It expresses a greater degree of abstinence than temperance.

The act of abstaining; a holding aloof. Jer. Taylor.

Characterized by abstinence; self-restraining. Farrar.

To make clean by wiping; to wipe away; to cleanse; hence, to purge. [R.] Quincy.

A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; as, soap is an abstergent.

To absterge; to cleanse; to purge away. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Act of wiping clean; a cleansing; a purging. The task of ablution and abstersion being performed. Sir W. Scott.

Something cleansing. The strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate. Milton.

The quality of being abstersive. Fuller.

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 or sensual propensities. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages, -- called also total abstinence. The abstinence from…

Abstinence. [R.]

Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate. Beau. & Fl.

With abstinence.

Wrested away. [Obs.] Bailey.

Withdraw; separate. [Obs.] The more abstract . . . we are from the body. Norris.

Separated or disconnected; withdrawn; removed; apart. The evil abstracted stood from his own evil. Milton.