Fasting refers to the total or partial abstention of all or certain foods, drinks and luxury foods over a period of time, usually one or more days. The word comes from the Old Highness. fastēn, which originally means "to hold fast to the commandments of abstinence", cf. also gothic fastan "(firmly) hold, strictly observe, guard". If only a very specific type of food or a stimulant is omitted or restricted, it is called abstinence or abstinence.