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abstain

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abstain

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++
Related topics: Voting
ab·stain /əbˈsteɪn/ ●○○ verb [intransitive]  1 PPVto choose not to vote for or against something 弃权,不投票 Six countries voted for the change, five voted against, and two abstained. 六个国家投票赞成变革,五个国家反对,两个国家弃权。2 to not do or have something you enjoy, especially alcohol or sex, usually for reasons of religion or health 〔通常出于宗教或健康原因〕戒除abstain from Pilots must abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before flying. 飞行员在飞行前的24小时里必须禁酒。
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Examples from the Corpus
abstainThere was a total of 12 candidates; although voting was obligatory an estimated 25 percent of the 5,700,000 electorate abstained.The sex education program encourages teens to abstain.Three members of the committee abstained.But 26m voters, or 69 % of the electorate, abstained.Mayor Mike Martini, a winery owner, abstained and the vote Tuesday ended up 3-3.Only 10 percent abstain by choice.Most of the church members drink only moderately or abstain completely.Junior politicians are supposed to abstain from criticizing the government.Babies born to women who did not abstain from drinking during pregnancy also tend to exhibit abnormal sleep patterns after birth.You should abstain from food and caffeinated drinks before the operation.Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat on Good Friday.Trial volunteers are told to abstain from watching TV for a month.Qiao Shi, the intelligence chief who had abstained in the martial law vote earlier, endorsed an immediate army crackdown.The Government abstained on a different aspect relating to the treaty of Rome basis.abstain fromTeens are being urged to abstain from sex.
Origin abstain (1300-1400) Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinere, from abs- away + tenere to hold
ab·stain verbChineseSyllable
to or not Corpus choose to for vote something against


abstain
abstain /əbˈsteɪn/ verb [intransitive]
 Date: 1300-1400
 Language: Old French
 Origin: abstenir, from Latin abstinere, from abs- 'away' + tenere 'to hold'
1. to choose not to vote for or against something:
    Six countries voted for the change, five voted against, and two abstained.
2. to not do or have something you enjoy, especially alcohol or sex, usually for reasons of religion or health
    abstain from
    Pilots must abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before flying.


ab·stainBrE /əbˈsteɪn/ 🔊NAmE /əbˈsteɪn/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they abstain BrE /əbˈsteɪn/ 🔊 NAmE /əbˈsteɪn/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it abstains BrE /əbˈsteɪnz/ 🔊 NAmE /əbˈsteɪnz/ 🔊past simple abstained BrE /əbˈsteɪnd/ 🔊 NAmE /əbˈsteɪnd/ 🔊past participle abstained BrE /əbˈsteɪnd/ 🔊 NAmE /əbˈsteɪnd/ 🔊 -ing form abstaining BrE /əbˈsteɪnɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /əbˈsteɪnɪŋ/ 🔊 [intransitive] ~ (from sth) to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against sth (投票时)弃权Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成,五人反对,两人弃权。🔊🔊~ (from sth) to decide not to do or have sth, especially sth you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong 戒;戒除to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs戒酒;禁欲;戒毒~ (from sth) (IndE) to stay away from sth 离开;回避The workers who abstained from work yesterday have been suspended. 昨天旷工的工人被暂时停职。🔊🔊   see also abstention, abstinence