Definition of abstemious

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< abstain

abstention >

ab·ste·mi·ous

(

b-st

b-) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

Eating and drinking in moderation.
1. Sparingly used or consumed: abstemious meals.
2. Restricted to bare necessities: an abstemious way of life.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin abstmius : abs-, ab-, away ; see ab-¹ + *tmum, liquor variant of tmtum

OTHER FORMS:
ab·stemi·ous·ly(Adverb), ab·stemi·ous·ness(Noun)

Thesaurus: synonyms for abstemious

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