The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Refrain \Re*frain"\, v. i.
   To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold
   aloof; to forbear; to abstain.
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         Refrain from these men, and let them alone. --Acts v.
                                                  38.
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         They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time
         after.                                   --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
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   Syn: To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Refrain \Re*frain"\ (r[-e]*fr[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Refrained (-fr[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Refraining.] [OE.
   refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refr['e]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[.r] to hold.]
   1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed
      bounds; to curb; to govern.
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            His reason refraineth not his foul delight or
            talent.                               --Chaucer.
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            Refrain thy foot from their path.     --Prov. i. 15.
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   2. To abstain from. [Obs.]
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            Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no
            other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Refrain \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.
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         We hear the wild refrain.                --Whittier.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

refrain
    n 1: the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of
         singers [syn: refrain, chorus]
    v 1: resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him
         back"; "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain,
         forbear] [ant: act, move]
    2: choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" [syn:
       abstain, refrain, desist] [ant: consume, have,
       ingest, take, take in]