abstinence

noun

1. forbearance from any indulgence of appetite, especially from the use of alcoholic beverages: total abstinence.
2. any self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance.
3. Economics. the conserving of current income in order to build up capital or savings.
4. the state of being without a drug, as alcohol or heroin, on which one is dependent.

noun

1. the act or practice of refraining from some action or from the use of something, esp alcohol
2. mainly RC Church the practice of refraining from specific kinds of food or drink, esp from meat, as an act of penance

n.

mid-14c., “forbearance in indulgence of the appetites,” from Old French abstinence (earlier astenance), from Latin abstinentia, noun of quality from abstinentem (nominative abstinens), present participle of abstinere (see abstain). Specifically of sexual appetites from mid-14c., but also in Middle English of food, fighting, luxury.

n.

1. The act or practice of refraining from indulgence in an appetite, as for certain foods, drink, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or sex.