See Also: Abstention(money)
abstention(dictionary)
abstention(dictionary)
ABSTENTION, French law(law)

abstention (iou)



abstention noun. E16.
[French, or late Latin abstentio(n-), from abstinere ABSTAIN: see -ION.]
The act of keeping back or restraining. E16-M17.
The act or state of abstaining or refraining (from). E17.
M. Arnold The character of abstention and renouncement. H. A. L. Fisher The fasting in the month of Ramadan,..the abstention from wine.
b. spec. The action or an act of declining to cast one's vote. L19.
H. Kissinger In 1969 the Important Question resolution had passed by a wide margin of 71 in favor, 48 against, and 4 abstentions.
abstentionism noun the fact or policy of abstaining, spec. in a vote E20.
abstentionist noun a person who abstains or believes in abstaining L19.