abstinentia Latin · revision 32135

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *tn-eh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ap.stɪˈnɛn.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ab.stiˈnɛn.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''abstinentia''' ''f'' (genitive abstinentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is often written ''apstinentia'', and the better manuscripts of Gregory of Tours have ''abstenentia''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|abstinēns|-ia|t1=abstaining]], from the participle of [[m|la|abstineō|t=to hold back, abstain]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) That verb is [[m|la|abs-]] with [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*t(e)nē-]] and [[ine-pro|*tn-eh₁-|t=to hold]], a stative of the root [[m|ine-pro|*ten-|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[xum|tenitu|t=let him hold]] and [[grc|τείνω|tr=teínō|t=to stretch]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who says of a man that his integrity makes him most worthy of the senate.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is restraint or abstention from something, and absolutely self-control.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short note that it always refers to the outward thing from which one keeps oneself, unlike ''[[continentia]]''.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Its most characteristic classical sense is restraint in money matters, freedom from covetousness, integrity, as in Cicero; the TLL places first the use for one who asks for and takes nothing from others.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) It also means abstemiousness in food and drink, or fasting: Celsus warns that too much abstinence is often harmful.^(OLD 2012) Apuleius uses it ironically of niggardliness.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it abstinence, moderation, not eating certain foods.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it means fasting or penance, and also an armistice.^(Niermeyer 1976) English borrowed ''abstinence'' through Old French in the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of integrity in money matters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus of excessive fasting.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of abstention from another's body.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius of niggardliness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – Borrowed into English as [[m|en|abstinence]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Restraint, [[m|en|abstention]] from something; [[m|en|self-control]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Freedom from covetousness, [[m|en|integrity]], incorruptibility.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Restraint in eating and drinking, abstemiousness; [[m|en|fasting]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Niggardliness, parsimony.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|penance|alt=Penance]]; an [[m|en|armistice]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[abstineo|alt=abstineō]]

+ * [[continentia]]

+ * [[en|abstinence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}