To abstain is to refuse to vote either for or against a motion. In the House of Commons and the House of Lords no official record is kept of those who choose to abstain when there is a division.

late 14c., "to withhold oneself," from Old French abstenir (14c.), earlier astenir (13c.) "hold (oneself) back, refrain, abstain (from), practice abstinence," from Latin abstinere [..]

to refrain, or stop doing something entirely.

v. To keep oneself back (from doing or using something).

to refrain from exercising federal jurisdiction over a case : cause an abstention

(v) choose not to consume(v) refrain from voting

During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may abstain rather than vote yes or no. This generally signals that a country does not support the resolution being voted on, but does not oppose it en [..]

(transitive,reflexive|obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.Followed by the word from or of. *Followed by the word from.

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