[a. Fr. abstention (OFr. astension), n. of action f. L. abstent- ppl. stem of abstinēre: see ABSTAIN.]
† 1. The act of keeping back or restraining. Obs.
1521. Wolsey, in Strype’s Eccl. Mem., I. 50. The abstention of war, which may be as soon broken … as all the other assurance, cannot then prevail.
1653. Gauden, Hieraspistes, 103. Which present denial, or abstention of such an one from receiving the holy Sacrament, might afterwards be examined by publick and lawful authority.
2. The act of keeping oneself back, abstaining or refraining; the state of refraining or of being kept back.
1624–47. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 303. Many sighes and teares which now he bestowed upon his abstention from that dearly affected devotion.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. in Critic. (1875), x. 267. In them the character of abstention and renouncement, which we have noticed in Ali himself, was marked yet more strongly.
1870. Daily News, 23 April. M. Picard … justifies his abstention from signing the manifesto of the Left.
1880. Illustr. Lond. News, 21 Feb., 178. The votes given were—for Mr. Clarke 7683…. There were over 7000 abstentions.
