abstain Copy link Outline 1. abstĭnĕo, ŭi, tentum, 2 (usu. with abl., rarely gen.; and often with pron. reflect.)2. parco, pĕperci and parci, parcĭtum and parsum, 3 (to spare3. tempĕro • abstain: 1. abstĭnĕo, ŭi, tentum, 2 (usu. with abl., rarely gen.; and often with pron. reflect.): I easily a.'d from oysters and lampreys, me ostreis et muraenis facile abstinebam, Cic.: to a. from arms, se armis abs., Liv.: to a. from injustice, injuria abs., Cic.: to a. from wine, vino abs., Hor.: a., he said, from resentments and heated strife, abstineto, dixit, irarum calidaeque rixae, Hor.: to a. from suicide, manum a se abs., Cic.: they hardly a. from attacking the camp, aegre abs. quin castra oppugnent, Liv.--N.B. The Latin, like the English verb, is sometimes used absolutely in the sense of "to abstain from food:" Cels.: v. to fast. 2. parco, pĕperci and parci, parcĭtum and parsum, 3 (to spare: with dat.): to a. from labour, labori p., Cic.: to a. from war, bello p., Virg. 3. tempĕro: v. refrain.