abstemiousness (abstemiusnes)

The quality or habit of being temperate, especially in the use of food and drink. = Syn. Abstemious ne , Abstinence, Temperance, Sobriety, soberne , moderation, temperatene . (See sobriety.) The italicized words denote voluntary abstention from objects of desire, most commonly abstention from food or drink, regarded either as an act or as an element in character. Abstemiousne , by derivation and earlier use, suggests abstinence from wine; but it has lost this special sense, and now generally signifies habitual moderation in the gratification of the appetites and desires; abstinence is simply the refraining from gratification, and may be applied to a single act. They both suggest self-denial, while temperance and 80briety suggest wisdom, balance of mind, and propriety. Temperance suggests self-control, the measure of abstention being proportioned to the individual's idea of what is best in that respect. Hence, abstinence and temperance often stand in popular use for total abstinence from intoxicating drink. Knowing the abstemiousne of Italians everywhere, and seeing the hungry fashion in which the islanders clutched our gifts and devoured them, it was our doubt whether any of them had ever experienced perfect re pletion. Howells , Venetian Life, xii. IMG:content-0093.png:[blocks in formation] practises or is in favor of abstention, as from the act of voting, from eating flesh, etc. abstentious (ab-sten's hus), a. [ abstert (ab-stėr'), v. t. [ So this in like manner should abster and fear me and Becon, Christmas Banquet. mine from doing evil. absterge (ab-stėrj'), v. t.; pret. and pp. absterged, ppr.absterging. [ L.abstergere, wipe off, Baths are used to absterge , belike, that fulsomene of sweat to which they are there subject. Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 286. 2. In med.: (a) To cleanse by lotions, as a wound or ulcer. (b) To purge. See deterge . abstergent (ab-ster'jent), a . and n. [ abster gen ( t- ) s , ppr. of abstergere : see absterge .] I. a . Having cleansing or purgative properties. II. n. 1. Anything that aids in scouring or cleansing, as soap or fuller's earth.-2. In med ., a lotion or other application for cleansing a sore: in this sense nearly superseded by detergent. abstergifyt, v. t. or i. [Improp. Specially when wee would abstergifie . Benvenuto, Pa engers' Dialogues.