Definitions for: Refrain


[n] the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers
[v] choose to refrain; "I abstain from alcohol"
[v] not do something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"



Webster (1913) Definition: Re*frain" (r?*fr?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refrained
(-fr?nd"); p. pr. & vb/ n. Refraining.] [OE. refreinen, OF.
refrener, F. refr?ner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF.
refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L.
refringere to break up, break (see Refract). L. refrenare
is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh? to hold.]
1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed
bounds; to curb; to govern.

His reson refraineth not his foul delight or talent.
--Chaucer.

Refrain thy foot from their path. --Prov. i. 15.

2. To abstain from [Obs.]

Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no
other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T.
Browne.


Re*frain", v. i.
To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold
aloof; to forbear; to abstain.

Refrain from these men, and let them alone. --Acts v.
38.

They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time
after. --Sir T.
Browne.

Syn: To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold.


Re*frain", n. [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr.
refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See
Refract,Refrain, v.]
The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the
end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic
composition.

We hear the wild refrain. --Whittier.

Synonyms: abstain, chorus, desist, forbear

Antonyms: act, consume, have, ingest, move, take, take in

See Also: abstain, avoid, fast, help, help oneself, keep off, let it go, music, save, sit out, song, spare, stand by, teetotal, tra-la, tra-la-la

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