Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Refrain?

\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.