a., also 6 abstenious, absteinous. [f. L. abstēmi-us + -OUS. Abstemius was considered by L. writers to be f. abs away from + tēmētum intoxicating liquor; but even in L. was extended to temperance in living generally. The verbal resemblance to abstain, absteine, has in Eng. given it a still wider use, and also produced the forms absteinous, abstenious.]
1. Dispensing with wine and rich food; temperate or sparing in food; characterized by or belonging to such temperance; sparing.
a. Of persons, their lives, or habits.
1624. Heywood, Gunaikeion, v. 226. To this absteinous life shee added the strict vow of chastitie.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XIX. 328. Let me pay To grief and anguish one abstemious day.
1832. Carlyle, Remin., I. 26. Mother and father were assiduous, abstemious, frugal without stinginess.
1878. Black, Green Past. and Picc., xxix. 234. They were remarkably abstemious at breakfast.
b. Of the food.
1776–88. Gibbon, Decl. & Fall, lviii. His [Peter the Hermit’s] diet was abstemious, his prayers long and fervent.
1832. Scott, Talism., ii. 26. The meal of the Saracen was abstemious.
2. Abstinent, refraining, sparing (with regard to other things than food). rare.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 53. Be more abstemious, Or else good night your vow.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., II. ii. The king … Is good and gracious … Abstemious from base and goatish looseness.
1823. Lamb, Elia (1865), I. xxi. 163. You advised an abstemious introduction of literary topics.
