Well-read · Food & drink · Character
Abstemious: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Abstemious adjective. Sparing in eating and drinking; not one to indulge.
How to say it
ub-STEE-mee-us/əbˈstiːmiəs/
4 syllables, stressed on the second (STEE).
Abstemious in a sentence
My abstemious grandfather allowed himself one small sherry at Christmas.
After the excesses of December, January tends to be an abstemious month.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- moderate
- temperate
- sober
- frugal
Opposite:
- gluttonous
- indulgent
- intemperate
Where abstemious comes from
From Latin abstemius, holding back from strong drink.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
After the excesses of December, January tends to be an _____ month.
- insipid
- abstemious
- sapid
Show the answer
abstemious: After the excesses of December, January tends to be an abstemious month.