English
Pronunciation
audio|en-us-refrain.ogg|Audio (US)
Etymology 1
From w:Old English language|Old English refreinen, w:Old French|Old French refrener, w:French language|French refrener, from w:Latin|Latin refrenare; influenced by w:Old French|Old French refraindre (meaning to restrain, moderate), from w:Late Latin|Late Latin refrangere, for w:Latin|Latin refringere (meaning to break up, break (see refract)). w:Latin|Latin refrenare is from prefix re- (back) + frenum (bridle); compare w:Sanskrit language|Sanskrit dh (to hold).
rfc-level|check placement of Pronunciation
Pronunciation
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-eɪn|-eɪn
Verb
en-verb
#transitive To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.
#:His reson refraineth not his foul delight or talent. w:Geoffrey_Chaucer|Chaucer
#:Refrain thy foot from their path. - Proverbs i:15.
#transitive To abstain from
#:Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink. - w:Thomas Browne|Thomas Browne
#intransitive 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 5:38.
#:They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after. - w:Thomas Browne|Thomas Browne.
Translations
trans-top|to hold back
Finnish: pidätellä, pitää poissa
trans-mid
Slovene: vzdržati se
trans-bottom
trans-top|to abstain from
Finnish: pidättäytyä (with elative)
trans-mid
Portuguese: se abster de
Slovene: vzdržati se
trans-bottom
trans-top|to keep one's self from action
Finnish: pidättäytyä
trans-mid
Portuguese: se abster
Slovene: vzdržati se
trans-bottom
trans-top|Translations to be checked.
ttbc|Dutch: (zich) inhouden; terughouden; (zich) onthouden (van); (zich) verzetten (tegen)
ttbc|French: se réfréner, se retenir
trans-mid
trans-bottom
Etymology 2
From w:French language|French refrain, from w:Old French|Old French refraindre (to break off, repeat); compare Pr.refranhs (a refrain), refranher (to repeat). See refract and the verb to refrain.
Noun
en-noun
- 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. As enjoined by a chorus.
#:We hear the wild refrain. Whittier.
Translations
trans-top|burden of song
Finnish: kertosäe
French: #French|refrain
Dutch: refrein
trans-mid
German: Refrain m
Hungarian: refrén
Slovene: refren m
trans-bottom
References
R:1913
Category:French derivations
Category:Late Latin derivations
Category:Latin derivations
Category:Old English derivations
Category:Old French derivations
Category:Sanskrit derivations
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