abstain
part of speech
verb (abstain, abstains, abstained, abstaining)
meaning for a pupil
1) (formal) To abstain is to choose not to do something you might enjoy, like eating sweets or drinking alcohol. tree →
2) To abstain in a vote is to choose not to vote for or against. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In Numbers it means the Nazirite's vow to keep away from wine, grapes and anything from the vine. Interpretation: The Nazirite is a person who takes on extra holiness for a time. The rabbis said that avoiding wine guards against loss of self-control. In the primary lessons: A formal word used in exam language, health and in voting. In class votes, some may abstain. In health, people abstain from sugar or alcohol. In maths problems about voting, abstentions are counted apart from yes and no votes. Followed by «from».
examples
- he shall abstain from wine and strong drink: he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. (Torah NUM.6.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- Grandad abstains from sugar in his tea. tree →
- Three pupils abstained in the class vote. tree →
- During the fast, they abstain from food until sunset. tree →
- She abstained from chocolate for a whole month. tree →
- Of 30 voters, 18 said yes, 9 said no, and 3 abstained. tree →
- He abstained from arguing and stayed calm. tree →
- She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. tree →
note
Formal; everyday words are «give up», «go without», «not vote». Noun: abstention (in voting), abstinence (going without). In maths: total votes = yes + no + abstentions.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «abstain» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.