Abstinence
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin abstinentia, from the verb abstinere (see abstain).
wiktionary
From Middle English abstinence, from Old French abstinence, from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēns, present participle of abstineō(“I withhold”). Equivalent to abstain + -ence.
etymonline
abstinence (n.)
mid-14c., "forbearance in indulgence of the appetites," from Old French abstinance (earlier astenance), from Latin abstinentia "abstinence, starvation; self-restraint, integrity," abstract noun from abstinentem (nominative abstinens), present participle of abstinere/abstenere "withhold, keep back, keep off," from assimilated form of ab "off, away from" (see ab-) + tenere "to hold," from PIE root *ten- "to stretch." Especially of sexual appetites but also in Middle English of food, fighting, luxury.
