Abstinence

Abstinence is essentially a keeping away, a refraining,entirely or in some degree, from anything. Specifically, as we employ the term here, abstinence is a retrenchment in the use of food or drink. It may be a total abstaining from certain kinds of food or drink; it may be a partial abstaining from nutriment in the sense that it is observed at certain times or in certain circumstances. When abstinence is ordinate, that is, in complete accord with right reason, it is either a virtue (that is,an enduring good habit) or it is a virtuous act.

As a moral virtue, abstinence tends to good under a special aspect, and therefore is a special virtue.