fasting; abstaining from food and drink
Formal or technical term for complete abstention from eating and drinking, often used in medical, religious, or procedural contexts.
I was instructed to fast before the surgery.
This test requires 12 hours of fasting.
Compound of 絶 (ぜつ, 'to cut off') + 飲食 (いんしょく, 'eating and drinking'). The reading ぜついんしょく follows standard on'yomi patterns.