Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Abstemious

Ab-ste′mi-ous

,
Adj.
[L.
abstemius
;
ab
,
abs
+ root of
temetum
intoxicating drink.]
1.
Abstaining from wine.
[Orig. Latin sense.]
Under his special eye
Abstemious
I grew up and thrived amain.
Milton.
2.
Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks; temperate; abstinent; sparing in the indulgence of the appetite or passions.
Instances of longevity are chiefly among the
abstemious
.
Arbuthnot.
3.
Sparingly used; used with temperance or moderation;
as, an
abstemious
diet
.
Gibbon.
4.
Marked by, or spent in, abstinence;
as, an
abstemious
life
.
“One abstemious day.”
Pope.
5.
Promotive of abstemiousness.
[R.]
Such is the virtue of the
abstemious
well.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition

Abstemious

ABSTE'MIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. abstemium, from abs and temetum, an ancient name of strong wine, according to Fabius and Gellius. But Vossius supposes it to be from abstineo, by a change of n to m. It may be from the root of timeo, to fear, that is, to withdraw.]
1.
Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks.
Instances of longevity are chiefly among the abstemious.
2.
Sparing in the enjoyment of animal pleasures of any kind. [This sense is less common, and perhaps not legitimate.]
3.
Sparingly used, or used with temperance; belonging to abstinence; as an abstemious diet; an abstemious life.

Similar Results