"Abstenerse" is a reflexive verb in Spanish that means to refrain from doing something or to abstain from participating in an action. It is commonly used in various contexts, including legal settings where individuals might abstain from voting or making a decision. The frequency of use is moderate; it can appear in both oral and written contexts, but is more frequent in formal or legal discourse.
Es importante que los miembros del jurado se abstengan de hablar sobre el caso fuera del tribunal.
It is important that the jury members abstain from discussing the case outside of court.
Decidí abstenerme de comer dulce durante toda la semana.
I decided to abstain from eating sweets for the entire week.
"Abstenerse" is often used in idiomatic expressions, particularly in formal contexts:
En la reunión, algunos accionistas decidieron abstenerse de votar para evitar un conflicto de intereses.
In the meeting, some shareholders decided to abstain from voting to avoid a conflict of interest.
Abstenerse de comentar
To refrain from commenting
La empresa pidió a sus empleados abstenerse de comentar públicamente sobre el asunto.
The company asked its employees to refrain from publicly commenting on the matter.
Abstenerse de intervenir
To abstain from intervening
"Abstenerse" comes from the Latin "abstinere," which is a combination of "ab," meaning "from," and "tenere," meaning "to hold." Hence, it carries the connotation of holding back from something.
Desistir (to desist)
Antonyms: