From Latin 'abstinere' — literally 'to hold oneself away from,' a metaphor of deliberate distance from indulgence.
To deliberately refrain from doing something, especially from consuming food, drink, or other pleasures; to formally decline to vote.
From Old French 'abstenir' from Latin 'abstinere' meaning 'to hold away from, to keep away, to refrain,' composed of 'abs-' (away from, off) and 'tenere' (to hold). The prefix 'abs-' (a variant of 'ab-') creates the sense of holding oneself away from something — actively maintaining distance between yourself and a temptation, action, or substance. The word has always carried moral and
In the United Nations General Assembly, abstaining from a vote is not the same as being absent. An abstention counts as participation — the member state was present and deliberately chose neither yes nor no. This creates a curious third option that diplomats use strategically: abstaining sends a signal distinct from both supporting