What does abstemious mean?
Abstemious describes someone who is notably moderate and self-disciplined in consuming food, drink, or other pleasures. An abstemious person might decline wine, eat modestly, or otherwise practice restraint where others indulge. The word derives from Latin roots meaning "to hold back from," and entered English in the early seventeenth century. It is a formal, somewhat literary term that typically carries an approving tone, suggesting self-control and temperance rather than mere deprivation. It is closely related to but distinct from "abstinent," which implies complete avoidance of something rather than moderation. Abstemious is most often applied to eating and drinking habits, though writers extend it to austere lifestyles more broadly. A memorable quirk: along with "facetious," it is one of the rare English words whose letters' vowels appear in strict alphabetical order (a, e, i, o, u), making it a favorite of word lovers and puzzle enthusiasts.
adjectiveModerate and self-disciplined in eating and drinking; sparing or restrained in the consumption of food, alcohol, or other indulgences.
- Restrained and moderate in the consumption of food and drink, especially alcohol.
- (By extension) Sparing, self-denying, or austere more generally in one's pleasures or expenditures.
"A famously abstemious man, he declined the wine and contented himself with sparkling water throughout the banquet."
"His abstemious habits — no coffee, no alcohol, small portions — were the subject of much teasing at the office."
"The novelist led an abstemious life, rising at dawn and denying herself every luxury beyond books and long walks."
"Abstemious" is one of only two common English words whose vowels appear in alphabetical order — its cousin is "facetious."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abstemious
Abstemious comes from Latin, combining the prefix ab- ("from, away") with temetum, a Latin word for an intoxicating drink, via the adjective form related to temere. The underlying sense is "holding oneself back from strong drink," which broadened to restraint in consumption generally. English adopted the word in the early seventeenth century, likely influenced by or modeled on "abstain" and "abstinence," which share the same ab- root. Its cognates include abstain, abstinence, and abstinent, all built on the same Latin stem.
Related word forms
How abstemious is actually used
Formal to literary in register; rarely used in casual conversation. It carries a generally approving connotation of discipline and self-mastery, though it can shade into suggesting joylessness or excessive austerity. The word applies chiefly to consumption of food and drink, but is often extended to a broader lifestyle of restraint.
Easily confused with abstemious
Abstinent means completely refraining from something (especially alcohol or sex), while abstemious means merely moderate and self-restrained in consuming it.