abstaining
棄権する
解説 Definition
abstaining は abstain（棄権する、控える）の現在分詞・動名詞です。投票で票を入れない場合や、飲酒などを意識的に避ける場合に使われますが、ここでは主に棄権する意味です。
Abstaining is deliberately choosing not to vote for or against a proposal, candidate, or decision. As the present participle of abstain, it can also describe intentionally avoiding an activity or substance, but here it chiefly concerns withholding a vote.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
原形 abstain に -ing を付けた形で、末尾の e を落として abstaining となります。発音の中心も原形と同じ「アブステイン」です。投票なら abstain from the vote「投票を棄権する」が典型で、賛成にも反対にも票を入れない姿を想像します。飲酒などを「意識的に控える」場合にも使われます。
Begin with abstain and form abstaining by dropping the final silent e before adding -ing. The main pronunciation of the base remains the same, with stress on the second syllable. For the voting sense, picture a member who is present but deliberately chooses neither yes nor no. Learn the pattern “abstain from the vote” or “abstain from voting”; abstain is normally followed by from when its object is stated. The same core idea of holding oneself back also appears in abstaining from alcohol or certain foods, but the examples here focus on refusing to take either side in a decision.
例文
Several members are abstaining from the vote.
数名の委員が投票を棄権しています。
By abstaining, she avoided taking either side.
彼女は棄権することで、どちらの側にも立たずに済ませました。
The report notes that two countries were abstaining during the final decision.
その報告書は、最終決定の際に2か国が棄権していたと述べています。
abstaining の類義語・関連語
abstaining の語源・成り立ち Etymology
abstaining は abstain に -ing が付いた形で、abstain は古フランス語を経てラテン語 abstinere、ab-「離れて」＋ tenere「保つ・つかむ」に由来します。retain や contain も tenere の仲間で、「自分を離して保つ」感覚から、飲食や投票を控える、つまり「棄権する」へつながります。
Abstaining is the -ing form of abstain, with the final e removed before the suffix is added. Abstain entered English through Old French from Latin abstinēre, formed from ab-, “away,” and tenēre, “to hold.” Its literal image is therefore “to hold oneself away.” That idea developed into voluntarily refraining from an activity and, in voting, withholding one’s vote rather than supporting or opposing a choice.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう