Word of the Day 7.18.9
abstemious
ab·ste·mi·ous (
b-st
m-
s, b-)
adj.
1. Eating and drinking in moderation.
2. Characterized by abstinence or moderation: The hermit led an abstemious way of life.
[From Latin abstmius : abs-, ab-, away; see ab-1 + *tmum, liquor, variant of tmtum.]
ab·stemi·ous·ly adv.
ab·stemi·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Adj. |
1. |
abstemious – sparing in consumption of especially food and drink; “the pleasures of the table, never of much consequence to one naturally abstemious”- John Galsworthynonindulgent, strict – characterized by strictness, severity, or restraintgluttonous – given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink; “over-fed women and their gluttonous husbands”; “a gluttonous debauch”; “a gluttonous appetite for food and praise and pleasure” |
2. |
abstemious – marked by temperance in indulgence; “abstemious with the use of adverbs”; “a light eater”; “a light smoker”; “ate a light supper”temperate – not extreme in behavior; “temperate in his habits”; “a temperate response to an insult”; “temperate in his eating and drinking” |