Search

sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; temperate in diet.
characterized by abstinence:
an abstemious life.
sparing:
an abstemious diet.
Historical Examples

True, I’ve since made call at an hotel, but you don’t give me credit for my abstemiousness!
Gwen Wynn Mayne Reid

Of true Puritan abstemiousness, his only indulgence was chewing tobacco.
The Crisis, Complete Winston Churchill

Careless to abstemiousness in her daily habits, it was part of her pride to set a feast before such of her guests as cared for it.
North and South Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

His abstemiousness is remarkable, and he will not feed during the night.
The Desert World Arthur Mangin

The recluse did not seem to cultivate the duty of abstemiousness, but he maintained silence.
The Forest of Vazon Anonymous

I feel that my abstemiousness, implying as it does a jaded palate and an aristocratic indigestion, is highly fashionable.
Bizarre Lawton Mackall

It is asserted that the climate itself induces temperance in drink and abstemiousness in diet.
Our Italy Charles Dudley Warner

At the period to which we refer, the literary society of Edinburgh was by no means distinguished for its abstemiousness.
Wilson’s Tales of the Borders and of Scotland John Mackay Wilson

But try as he would this ardent apostle of abstemiousness was unable to put down drinking.
The Pirates’ Who’s Who Philip Gosse

A striking instance of abstemiousness is that of Cornaro, a Venetian nobleman, who died in the year 1566 at the age of 98.
The Chemistry of Food and Nutrition A. W. Duncan

adjective
moderate or sparing, esp in the consumption of alcohol or food; temperate
adj.

c.1600, from Latin abstemius “sober, temperate,” from ab(s)- “from” (see ab-) + stem of temetum “strong drink,” related to temulentus “drunken.” Technically, of liquor, but extended in Latin to temperance in living generally. Related: Abstemiously; abstemiousness.