fastings

Noun

fasting (countable and uncountable, plural fastings)

1. Abstinence or mortification for religious reasons, especially abstinence from food.
   • Long vigils—fastings that wore away the strength of day—prayers that banished sleep from night—hoarded vengeance, that, like a fire, consumed its abode—affections crushed to the very earth—a memory whose love was with the grave,—a faith that had coloured itself with mortal passion,—all these had...1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, pages 269–270
2. Abstinence from food, limiting caloric intake, for medical or health reasons, dieting.
   • an obese patient while he was undergoing fasting for weight reduction1967 November 17, United States Navy Medical News Letter, volume 50, number 10, page 13