abstenance

Noun

abstinence (countable and uncountable, plural abstinences)

1. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.
   • Near-synonyms: abstentiousness, abstemiousness

   Synonyms:

   abstention, abstentiousness, abstemiousness

   1. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism).
      • For quotations using this term, see Citations:abstinence.
   2. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from sexual intercourse, either permanently or until marriage.
      • Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.
   3. Abstention from certain foods on days of penitential observance.
      • "The church teaching before Vatican II was that it was 'gravely sinful' to take 2 ounces of meat on a day of abstinence such as Friday," said the Rev. Joseph S. Rossi, a Jesuit professor of church history at Loyola College.1995 September 18, Rafael Alvarez, “Catholics asked to avoid eating meat on Fridays Cardinal suggests abstinence in weeks leading up to Pope's visit”, in Baltimore Sun
2. The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
3. (obsolete) Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.

See all 7 meanings of abstinence