REFRAIN

refrain, chorus

(noun) the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

abstain, refrain, desist

(verb) choose not to consume; “I abstain from alcohol”

refrain, forbear

(verb) resist doing something; “He refrained from hitting him back”; “she could not forbear weeping”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Verb

refrain (third-person singular simple present refrains, present participle refraining, simple past and past participle refrained)

(transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]

(reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back. [from 14th c.]

(transitive, now rare) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb. [from 14th c.]

(intransitive) To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain. [from 15th c.]

(transitive, now rare, regional) To abstain from (food or drink). [from 16th c.]

Etymology 2

Noun

refrain (plural refrains)

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

A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.

Anagrams

• Ren fair, ferrian

Source: Wiktionary

Re*frain" (r*frn"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refrained (-frnd"); p. pr. & vb/ n. Refraining.] Etym: [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refr, 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.

Definition: 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. Etym: [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr. refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain, v.]

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition