abstemious
adj.adj. describing someone who eats or drinks very little, especially to stay healthy or save money. It is an old-fashioned word for being very careful with your habits.
adj. characterised by moderation in eating, drinking, or spending. Often used to describe a lifestyle of self-discipline or frugality.
He lived an abstemious life, eating very little and spending nothing on luxury.
The monks followed an abstemious diet, consuming only simple grains and vegetables to maintain their spiritual discipline.
While the general public indulged in the feast, the king maintained an abstemious approach, mindful of the rising costs of his court's extravagant lifestyle.
From Latin abstēmius (“abstaining from wine”); from ab, abs (“from”) + tēmus, a root of tēmētum (“intoxicating drink, especially strong mead or wine”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *temH- (“dark (referring to the colour of wine)”)) + -ous.
- Nounabstemiousness
- Adjectiveabstemious
- Adverbabstemiously