abstinence-based

the term is a modern english compound adjective formed in the late 20th century, primarily within public health and addiction treatment discourse. the first element, 'abstinence', originates from latin abstinentia, itself from abstinēre ('to hold back'), composed of abs- ('away from') and tenēre ('to hold'). the second element, '-based', derives from the verb 'base', which entered english via old french from latin basis ('foundation, pedestal'), a borrowing from greek. the compound logically constructs the meaning of a system or approach whose foundational principle is the practice of holding away or refraining from a specific activity, such as consuming alcohol or drugs.

Structure: abstinence + based abstinence (from latin abstinentia, meaning 'holding back', functioning as the core concept noun) + based (from english base, from old french baser, from latin basis, meaning 'foundation', functioning as a suffix to form adjectives meaning 'having as a foundation')