sexual abstention
- noun
- /ˈsɛkʃuəl æbˈstɛnʃən/
:
abstinencia sexual
- In some cultures, sexual abstention is seen as a virtue that reflects self-control and discipline.
Examples
-
Whether or not these warnings against sexual abstention derived from the ancient description of hysteria as a female ailment caused by a womb wandering in search of sperm, they throw light on the way the medical profession was out to relax the religious hold on sexuality.
Academic text (2003) -
The program encourages sexual abstention among teens to promote healthy relationships and personal growth.
-
Many people choose sexual abstention during religious holidays to deepen their spiritual practice.
Synonyms
63
6.4
Choosing not to do things like drinking alcohol or having sex
46
6.8
Not having sex often for religious or personal reasons
35
8.1
A state in which a person does not have sex, often for religious or moral reasons
1
9.9
A person chooses not to have sex to show self-control
Choosing not to have sex or to limit sexual activity
Antonyms
- NSFW
31
3.0
Physical acts between people, like touching or having sex, that give pleasure
How Abstinent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun meaning is directly built from the adjective 'sexual' (relating to sex) and 'abstention' (deliberate refraining), so a learner who knows both words can readily infer 'refraining from sexual activity'. This compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, making the expression transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
Sexual abstention comes from the parts sexual, meaning about sex, and abstention, meaning holding back from something. So picture someone stepping back from a kiss and deciding not to take part, and that simple image shows why the term means 'choosing not to have sex' for religious, moral, or personal reasons.