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refrain

verb
/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/

Etymology

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.

  1. derived from refrēnāre
  2. derived from refrener
  3. derived from refrener
  4. inherited from refreynen

Definitions

  1. To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).

    • Refrain thy foot from their path.

  2. To show restraint

    To show restraint; to hold oneself back.

    • And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].

  3. To repress (a desire, emotion etc.)

    To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb.

  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. To stop oneself from some action or interference

      To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain; to eschew

      • Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
      • They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
      • July 5, 1731, Jonathan Swift, letter to Vanessa If you knew how I struggle for a little health, what uneasiness I am at in riding and walking, and refraining from every thing agreeable to my taste

    2. To abstain from (food or drink).

      • Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.

    3. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.

    4. A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for refrain. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA