refrain

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See also Refrain

Contents

English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From a combination of Anglo-Norman refraindre, Middle French refreindre (from Latin refrangere), and Anglo-Norman refrener, Middle French refrener (from Latin refrenare).

Verb[edit]

refrain (third-person singular simple present refrains, present participle refraining, simple past and past participle refrained)

  1. (transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]
    • Proverbs i:15.
      Refrain thy foot from their path.
  2. (reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back. [from 14th c.]
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts V:
      And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].
  3. (transitive, now rare) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb. [from 14th c.]
    • Chaucer
      his reson aperceyueth it wel that it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson / refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent.
  4. (intransitive) To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain. [from 15th c.]
    • Bible, Acts v. 38
      Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
    • Sir Thomas Browne
      They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
  5. (transitive, now rare, regional) To abstain from (food or drink). [from 16th c.]
    • Thomas Browne
      Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.
Translations[edit]
to hold back
to abstain (from)
to keep one’s self from action
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Translations to be checked

Etymology 2[edit]

From French refrain, from the Old French verb refraindre (“to break off, repeat”), from Latin re- (“back, again”) + frangō (“break”); compare Occitan refranhs (“a refrain”), refranher (“to repeat”). See refract and the verb refrain.

Noun[edit]

Wikipedia has an article on:

Wikipedia refrain (plural refrains)

  1. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
    We hear the wild refrain. Whittier.
Translations[edit]
burden of song

References[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

French[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

refrain m (plural refrains)

  1. refrain, chorus

Anagrams[edit]

Italian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

French

Noun[edit]

refrain m (invariable)

  1. refrain

Synonyms[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

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