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abstenir

to abstain

verb ahbs-teh-NEER Rare

Origin: From Latin abstinere (to hold back)

Usage Note

Abstenir is a non-standard infinitive; the canonical RAE verb is the reflexive abstenerse (me abstengo de votar = 'I abstain from voting'), conjugated like tener. Use abstenerse in standard Spanish.

Examples

"Decidió abstener su voto en la reunión."

Natural Translation

He decided to abstain his vote at the meeting.

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