abstinens Latin · revision 34153

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la teneō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''abstinēns''' (genitive abstinentis, comparative abstinentior, superlative abstinentissimus); third-declension one-termination adjective^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Used as an adjective, it is the present participle [[der|la|abstineō|t=to hold back, abstain]],^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) which is made from [[m|la|abs-|t=away]] and [[m|la|teneō|t=to hold]].^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces that verb to [[itc-pro|*t(e)nē-]] and [[ine-pro|*tn-eh1-|t=to hold]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it first in Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who writes ''praetorem decet non solum manus sed etiam oculos abstinentes habere'', “a praetor should keep not only his hands but also his eyes under restraint”.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With a genitive or ablative it means showing restraint in respect of something, not covetous of it:^(OLD 2012) Horace has ''abstinēns pecūniae'', “keeping one's hands off money”,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Pliny the Younger ''alieni abstinentissimus'', “wholly keeping off what belongs to others”,^(TLL)^(Georges 1913) and Columella the ablative, of abstaining from sex.^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Used alone it means self-restrained, temperate, above all in money matters, as in Cicero's letters and in the epitome of Livy, where Mummius ''abstinentissimum virum egit'', “behaved as a man of complete integrity”;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Horace also uses it of chastity.^(OLD 2012) In Ecclesiastical Latin it means temperate, abstinent,^(Stelten 1995) and in medieval Latin ascetic.^(Niermeyer 1976) Italian ''astinente'' comes from it.^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a magistrate's restraint.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace has ''abstinēns pecūniae''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella has the superlative with an ablative.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 310–394 AD – Ausonius has the comparative ''abstinentior''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Medieval Latin – It is used of the ascetic.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (with a genitive or ablative) Showing [[m|en|restraint]] in respect of, not [[m|en|covetous]] of.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # Self-restrained, [[m|en|temperate]], above all in money matters; [[m|en|disinterested]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|chaste|alt=Chaste]], [[m|en|continent]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' [[m|en|ascetic|alt=Ascetic]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[abstineō]]

+ * [[abstinentia]]

+ * [[abstinenter]]

+ * [[teneō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}