Absterge

a. wiping; to wipe. Abster'gent, a. That cleanses; purgative. Absterse', v. a. To cleanse; to absterge; to purify. Abster's ion, n. The act of wiping clean. Abster's ive, a. Having the quality of cleansing. Ab's tinence, and Abstinency, n. [Fr. abstinence, from Lat. abstineo, I abstain.) The act or habit of refraining from something to which we have a propensity, or in which we find pleasure; but it is more particularly applied to the privation or sparing use of food. Abstinence has been enjoined and practised for various ends, as sanatory, moral, or religious. Physicians relate wonderful cures effected by abstinence; moralists, as the Pythagoreans, Stoics, and others, recommend it as a means of bringing the animal part of our nature into greater subservience to the spiritual; and it is likewise enjoined by various religious sects. Abstinence of flesh on certain days is obligatory in the Roman Catholic church. [Lat. abstergere .] To make clean by Total abstinence. The time during which life can be supported under total abstinence from food or drink, is usually stated to vary from eight to ten days; the period has, however, in certain cases been much prolonged. The phrase total abstinence, as ordinarily employed, is restricted to abstinence from intoxicating liquors. This is strictly enjoined by many advocates of the temperance reform, and by the leading temperance societies. Abstinent, a. Using abstinence; abstemious. Ab's tinently, adv . With abstinence. Ab's tinents, n. pl . ( Eccl . Hist .) A religious sect which appeared in France and Spain in the third century, and which opposed marriage, condemned the use of flesh meat, and placed the Holy Spirit in the cla of created beings.