abstinence

noun

Etymology: From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō (“to withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence.

1. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.

   “Near-synonyms: abstentiousness, abstemiousness”

   “Penance, Faſts, and Abſtinence, / To puniſh Bodies for the Souls offence.”

2. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.

   “For quotations using this term, see Citations:abstinence.”

3. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.

   “Abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed contraception.”

4. The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite.

   “"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.”

5. The practice of self-denial; self-restraint; forebearance from anything.
6. Self-denial; abstaining; or forebearance of anything.
7. Delay of spending to accrue capital.