abstain

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

ab·stain [abstain abstains abstained abstaining] BrE [əbˈsteɪn] NAmE [əbˈsteɪn] verb intransitive
1. ~ (from sth) to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against sth
•Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained.
2. ~ (from sth) to decide not to do or have sth, especially sth you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong
•to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs
3. ~ (from sth) (IndE)to stay away from sth
•The workers who abstained from work yesterday have been suspended.
see also ↑abstention, ↑abstinence
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinere, from ab- ‘from’ + tenere ‘hold’.

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  refrain, desist
• Từ trái nghĩa / Antonyms:
  consume, ingest, take in, take, have