refrain

Noun · Verb
US[rih-freyn]/rɪˈfreɪn/2 syllables
Synonyms: chorusforbearabstaindesist

Open English WordNet

Noun (1)

  1. the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singersSynonyms: chorusType of musicKinds tra-la, tra-la-laPart of song, vocal

Verb (2)refrained, refraining

  1. resist doing something“He refrained from hitting him back”“she could not forbear weeping”Synonyms: forbearMore general resist, hold outMore specific leave, avoid, spare, close up, help oneself, stand by, abstain, sit out, let it go, forbear +1 more
  2. choose not to consume“I abstain from alcohol”Synonyms: abstaindesistMore general choose, preferMore specific keep off, fast, teetotal

Related words choral adjective, chorus verb, forbearance noun

Word of the day · Nov 3About this word
incessantadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Re·frain′ (rē-frān′), transitive verb [past tense & past participle Refrained (-frānd′); present participle & verbal noun Refraining.]

Origin: OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refréner, 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. dhṛ to hold.

1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.

His reason refraineth not his foul delight or talent.— Geoffrey Chaucer
Refrain thy foot from their path.— Prov. i. 15.

2. To abstain from. obsolete

Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.— Sir Thomas Browne
Re·frain′ intransitive verb

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 Thomas Browne

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

Re·frain′ noun

Origin: F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr. refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain, verb

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.— John Greenleaf Whittier

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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