refrain
1
[ ri-freyn ]
/ rɪˈfreɪn /
verb (used without object)
to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed by from): I refrained from telling him what I thought.
verb (used with object)
Archaic.
to curb.
Origin of refrain
1
1300–50; Middle English
refreinen < Old French
refrener < Latin
refrēnāre to bridle, equivalent to
re-
re- +
frēn(um) bridle +
-āre infinitive suffix
OTHER WORDS FROM refrain
re·frain·er, noun re·frain·ment, noun un·re·frained, adjective un·re·frain·ing, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH refrain
refrain restrainWords nearby refrain
Example sentences from the Web for refraining
British Dictionary definitions for refraining (1 of 2)
refrain
1
/ (rɪˈfreɪn) /
verb
(intr usually foll by from)
to abstain (from action); forbear
Derived forms of refrain
refrainer, noun refrainment, nounWord Origin for refrain
C14: from Latin
refrēnāre to check with a bridle, from
re- +
frēnum a bridle
British Dictionary definitions for refraining (2 of 2)
refrain
2
/ (rɪˈfreɪn) /
noun
a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song
a much repeated saying or idea
Word Origin for refrain
C14: via Old French, ultimately from Latin
refringere to break into pieces