Third person singular or plural present tense of abstain; to choose not to do, use, or consume something.
From abstain (Latin abstinere), a combination of ab- (from) and tenere (to hold/keep). Used in formal contexts, especially voting and religious practice.
In voting, when someone 'abstains,' they're not saying yes or no—they're saying they either can't decide, have a conflict of interest, or don't want to participate. It's legally different from just skipping the vote!
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