refrain
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
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From a combination of Anglo-Norman refraindre, Middle French refreindre (from Latin refringere), and Anglo-Norman refrener, Middle French refrener (from Latin refrenare).
Verb
refrain (third-person singular simple present refrains, present participle refraining, simple past and past participle refrained)
- (transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 1:15:
- Refrain thy foot from their path.
- (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 [...].
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts V:
- (transitive, now rare) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb. [from 14th c.]
- [The template Template:rfquotek does not use the parameter(s):
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- (intransitive) To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain. [from 15th c.]
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 5:38:
- Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
- (Can we date this quote by Thomas Browne and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
- (transitive, now rare, regional) To abstain from (food or drink). [from 16th c.]
- (Can we date this quote by Thomas Browne and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.
- (Can we date this quote by Thomas Browne and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
Translations
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Etymology 2
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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
refrain (plural refrains)
- The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
- A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.
Translations
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References
- “refrain”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Anagrams
French
Etymology
Alteration of Old French refrait, past participle of the verb refraindre (based on the verb's infinitive), itself from Vulgar Latin *refrangere, from Latin refringo, refringere.
Pronunciation
Noun
refrain m (plural refrains)
Descendants
Further reading
- “refrain”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
Italian
Etymology
From French.
Noun
refrain m (uncountable)
- refrain
- Synonym: ritornello
Anagrams
- English 2-syllable words
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- Rhymes:English/eɪn
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰer-
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- Italian masculine nouns