abstemious

Adjective

abstemious (comparative more abstemious, superlative most abstemious)

1. Refraining from freely consuming food or strong drink; sparing in diet; abstinent, temperate.
   • It cannot be denied it [the chameleon] is (if not the moſt of any) a very abſtemious animall, and ſuch as by reaſon of its frigidity, paucity of bloud, and latitancy in the winter (about which time the obſervations are often made) will long ſubſist without a viſible ſuſtentation.1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Cameleon”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 3rd book, page 133
   • Under his ſpecial eie / Abſtemious I [Samson] grew up and thriv'd amain; / He led me on to mightieſt deeds / Above the nerve of mortal arm / Againſt the uncircumciſ'd, our enemies.1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 42, lines...

   Synonyms:

   abstinent, sober, temperate

2. Sparing in the indulgence of the appetite or passions.
   • The Ms had an abstemious sex life; in fourteen years of marriage, they had had sex exactly six times. Mrs. M desired sex and more children, but her husband refused.2010, Rebecca L. Davis, “Sacred Partnerships”, in More Perfect Unions: The American Search for Marital Bliss, Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 149

   Synonyms:

   abstentious, continent, otherish, selfless, self-abnegatory, self-denying, self-flagellatory, self-sacrificing, unselfish, calm

3. Sparingly used; used with temperance or moderation.
   • If the predisposition to the disease has arisen from a plethoric state of the system, or from a turgescence in the vessels of the head, this is to be obviated by bleeding, both generally and topically, but more particularly the latter; an abstemious diet and proper exercise; and by a seton in the...1842, John Reitch, “[A Dictionary of Domestic Medicine.] EPILEPSY.”, in Gibbons Merle, John Reitch, The Domestic Dictionary and Housekeeper’s Manual: Comprising Everything Related to Cookery, Diet...

   Synonyms:

   frugal, sparing, canny, chary, moderate, cheap, close with a buck, economic, economical, provident

   Antonyms:

   extravagant, squandering, improvident, imprudent, lavish, loose-handed, prodigal, profligate, reckless, spendthrift

4. Marked by, or spent in, abstinence.
   • an abstemious life
   • If yet Achilles have a Friend, whoſe Care / Is bent to pleaſe him; this Requeſt forbear: / Till yonder Sun deſcend, ah let me pay / To Grief and Anguiſh one abſtemious Day.1720, Homer, “Book XIX”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume V, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 170, lines 325–328

   Synonyms:

   temperate

5. (rare) Promotive of abstemiousness.
   • But ſtranger Virtues yet in Streams we find, / Some change not only Bodies, but the Mind: / […] Clytorian Streams the love of Wine expel, / (Such is the virtue of th' abſtemious Well;) […]1700, [John] Dryden, “Of the Pythagorean Philosophy. From Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book XV”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 521