abstemious

Everyday

(formal) Abstemious means eating and drinking very little, especially not much rich food or alcohol; holding yourself back from pleasures. tree →

In the lessons

In formal writing, history and religious stories, monks, saints and some famous people lived abstemious lives. In health lessons, the word links to self-control and moderation. In church life, fasting in Lent is an abstemious practice. Phrases: «an abstemious life», «abstemious habits».

Examples

• The old monk lived an abstemious life of bread and water. tree →
• Grandad is abstemious and never drinks alcohol. tree →
• She was abstemious at the party and had only one small cake. tree →
• During Lent some Christians are more abstemious and give up treats. tree →
• The athlete kept to an abstemious diet before the race. tree →
• He was too abstemious to have a second helping. tree →

Note

Formal. Say «ab-STEE-mee-us». Fun fact: «abstemious» and «facetious» contain all five vowels a, e, i, o, u in order — a favourite puzzle and olympiad fact. Related: abstain (choose not to do or have something).