Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AB'STI-NENCE, n. [L. abstinentia. See Abstain.]

1. In general, the act or practice of voluntarily refraining from, or forbearing any action. Abstinence from every thing which can be deemed labor. – Palsy's Philos. More appropriately,
2. The refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or from customary gratifications of animal propensities. It denotes a total forbearance, as in fasting, or a forbearance of the usual quantity. In the latter sense, it may coincide with temperance, but in general, it denotes a more sparing use of enjoyments than temperance. Besides, abstinence previous free indulgence; temperance, does not.