refrain

See also: Refrain

English

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪn

Etymology 1

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)

  1. (transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]
  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.]
  5. (transitive, now rare, regional) To abstain from (food or drink). [from 16th c.]
    • (Can we date this quote by Thomas Browne?)
      Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.
Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked

Etymology 2

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)

  1. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
  2. A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.
Translations

References
  • refrain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

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
  • IPA(key): /ʁə.fʁɛ̃/
  • Audio(file)

Noun

refrain m (plural refrains)

  1. refrain, chorus

Further reading

Anagrams

Italian

Etymology

From French.

Noun

refrain m (invariable)

  1. refrain
    Synonym: ritornello

Anagrams
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