abstenant

Forums: English
Email this Topic • Print this Page

What does abstenant mean? I looked up in the dictionary and I can't find it.

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 1,797 • Replies: 4

No top replies

The spelling was your problem.

Quote:

Ab·sti·nent
a.
[F. abstinent, L. abstinens, p. pr. of abstinere. See Abstain.]
Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate. Beau. & Fl.

Ab·sti·nent
n.

1. One who abstains.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d century.

0 Replies

Phoenix32890 wrote:

Quote:
2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d century.

The importance of such sects has largely diminished :wink:

0 Replies

I would guess that you may have come across it in a sex ed context -- if so, it specifically means someone who doesn't have sex. (In the meaning #1, above, someone "abstains" from sex, or doesn't do it.)

0 Replies

It's not just sex that one can abstain from; a "total abstainer" is somebody who does not drink any alcohol. One can abstain from alcohol, sex, meat, fatty foods, tobacco, all kinds of indulgences...

0 Replies

abstenant

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know