Origin: Latin suffix -ous
Abstemious has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
sparing in consumption of especially food and drink
"the pleasures of the table, never of much consequence to one naturally abstemious"
marked by temperance in indulgence
"abstemious with the use of adverbs"
"a light eater"
"a light smoker"
"ate a light supper"
Refraining from freely consuming food or strong drink; sparing in diet; abstinent, temperate.
The word abstemious comes from the Latin phrase abstēmius, which originally meant "abstaining from wine." It is formed by combining ab, meaning "from," with tēmus, a root referring to an intoxicating drink like strong mead or wine.