Middle English Dictionary Entry
absteinen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | absteinen v. Also abstenen, abstinen. |
| Etymology | OF a(b)stenir, tonic stem a(b)stein-, & L abstinēre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To avoid (sth.), stay away from (a person or place), refrain from partaking of (food, etc.); -- often with fro, from, of; (a) refl.; (b) intr.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)188/31 : If her norice absteyne hir fro salt metis & scharpe & fro strong wijn.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)275/22 : He schal absteyne him fro wommen.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1885 : Abstenand þam fro drynk & mete.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)180/4 : A man..wil abstene hymselfe fro the auter.
- (1471) Let.Fauconberge in Archaeol.Cant.11 (Gldh Jrnl 8)362 : We..exorte..you..to absteyn your self from such unlawfull gaderyngs and assemblees of people.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)4/39 : In these dayes a man schuld the rather absteyne hym fro his wyff and hure bedde then to be with hure.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)49/15 : Y haue vnderstonde how greet desir þat ȝe haue..þat y were with ȝow; ȝe meruaille how y may absteyne me fro ȝow.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)87a/a : Þe pacient schal absteyne and spare [L abstineat a] salte metis.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Num.6.3 : Fro al that may make dronkun, thei shulen absteyne.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)99 : Sche þus weddid..feyned hir selue seek, þat schuld undir þat colour abstine fro his bed.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)102 : Þey obey hem to absteyn from meytis.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)5/4 : In iche Sonday..it shuld be absteynyd.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)141/6 : It is noȝt profitable þat þe flesche be absteyned fro.
2.
To restrain oneself, refrain (from doing sth.); -- often with fro, from, of, to, forto; (a) refl.; (b) intr.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3761 : Of wepyng ne miȝt sche abstene hur noȝt.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Thes.4.3 : That ȝe absteyne ȝou fro fornycacioun.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.75 : Gerebertus was war þerof, and absteynede hym [L se continuit].
- a1400 Wycl.MPl.(Add 24202)48 : Mychen more a prist..awȝte to abstene hym fro al ydil pleying, bothe of myraclys and ellis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)13/4 : And þei acursen all þo þat abstynen hem to eten flesch the saterday.
- (1425) RParl.4.271a : Ye yaf in commaundement to my Lordes..to abstene hem both from sittyng in yis hie Court of Parlement.
- (c1426) Paston2.17 : William..hath absteyned hym of al maner of execucion.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)81 : My seyde lorde..was warnyd theroff and counseylled..to absteyne him off komynge to Westminstre.
- (1447-8) Shillingford10 : If we wolde absteyne us and forbere of arrestis of alle men of habite.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)124 : He koowde not abstene hyme from rubbynge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2660 : Absteyne you stithly, þat no stoure fall.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)29/34 : If y schulde abstene me here now fro writyng herof.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.53 : To absteyne you from werre gevyng.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)59/2 : So þat oþer be war and lere and abstene hem to do wronge.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7553 : He wolde come and gon al day; He coude himselve nat abstene.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.75 : Þe chamberlayn absteynede nouȝt at þe fulle, for he took a knyf.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)815 : What er they worthy that..fro the knotte list not to abstene [vr. absteyne] Of such spousale.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2920 : Thei wold abstene, a siege forto sette.
- (1447-8) Shillingford11 : He..asked ayen, if we wold forbere and absteyne and be recompensed therfor.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)78 : Y must here therof abstene and forber.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2300 : We may stithly absteyne & stond at our ese.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)100/15 : He that wyl not abstene when he may, it es cast to hym.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)21/16 : Þat he fle and beware and absteyne forto neiȝe to suche bodies.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.75 : Gerebertus..towched not eny thynge; but his chambirleyne absteynynge not þerof, toke a knyfe.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)191/2 : Lest I sette þe reders þerof into werynes, I wole absteyne and forbere.
- a1500 3rd Fran.Rule (Seton)49/28 : Eche of theim shall absteyne frome fleshe eting the Mounday, Wednisday, Friday, & Saterday.
3.
To keep oneself free from (defilement, sin, vice, etc.), avoid; -- often with fro, from, of; (a) refl.; (b) intr.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 15.20 : Wryte to hem, that thei absteyne hem fro defoulingis of symulacris and fornycacioun.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)48/14 : Fastars in Cristis chirche abstynen hem from lustis.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)46/8 : Parfyt [lovers] truly þamself abstenys..fro ilk þinge with qwhilk þer perfeccion may be destroyd.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)205 : Þey hadden absteyned hem from vicis.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)228 : That we abstene us fro ech spice of moral yuel.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1594 : Of þy fowle gloterye Abstene þe.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)44 : Fastingis are not necesary, wil man absteniþ him fro oþer synne.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)6/27 : He abstaynet hym of his synne a while.
b
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)228 : This makith not that a man abstene fro eny morali good spice.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)666 : He sy, I nolde absteene for no good Of myn outrageous iniquitee.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)107 : Hit is feyr abstinaunce..to the sight of god, when a man absteynithe fro synne.
4.
To live austerely, practice abstinence or asceticism; to fast; to be sexually continent; to abstain from sleep, certain foods or drinks, etc.: -- (a) refl.; (b) intr.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.153 : Amazones..certeyn tymes lette housbondes ligge by hem, and certeyne tymes absteyned hem [L abstinentes].
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)51/603 : He abstined him so wondurliche and trauailed and waked so bisyliche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)82b/a : Hit nediþ þat hy absteyne ham, & spare Ivel metis & servus of venus.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)161/32 : I badde þe..þat þu xuldist leeuyn flesch mete & non etyn, & þu hast..absteynd þe.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3716 : To Absteyne vs we muste haue thought.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)148b/b : He [the falcon] fleeþ and voydeþ careyne and..absteyneþ & abideþ til he may fynd couenable pray.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)268a/b : Þe addre feleþ him y greued wiþ yuel oþer wiþ eelde and absteyneþ and wasteþ many dayes.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.14.6 : He þat etys not, þat is he þat abstenes, to oure lord he etys not.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)5 : Absteynyn [Win: absteyn]: Abstineo..Abstynent or absteynynge: Abstinens.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)145/24 : Absteinynge fro slepe, she serued oure lorde in þe nyghtes-watchys.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.153 : Vsenge the acte venerealle in certeyne tymes and absteynenge oþer certeyne tymes.
5.
To restrain (sb.); also, to restrain (one's desires).
Associated quotations
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.743 : [The bulls] musten ben abstened ffrom generacionis liberte.
- a1450 Who þat liste loke (Stw 951)47/291 : The beautee þat he see in hir soleyne Made hym of na poair, his lustes frele For to abstene.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)77/12 : Hele the wounde..and abstine hym [the patient] from alle qweysy metis and wymmen.
6.
To keep (sth.) away.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.297 : He abstyned from hym slepe.