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abstention (n.)
1520s, "a holding off, refusal to do something," from French abstention (Old French astencion), from Late Latin abstentionem (nominative abstentio) "the act of retaining," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin abstinere/abstenere "withhold, keep back, keep off," from assimilated form of ab "off, away from" (see ab-) + tenere "to hold" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"). As "a refraining from voting" by 1859.

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Definitions of abstention from WordNet
Dictionary entries near abstention
absorption
absquatulate
abstain
abstainer
abstemious
abstention
abstinence
abstinent
abstract
abstracted
abstraction