refrain

¹

[ri-freyn]

noun

1. a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus.

2. Music.

   1. a musical setting for the refrain of a poem.

   2. any melody.

   3. the principal, recurrent section of a rondo.

3. an often heard statement, opinion, etc..

   Today’s technology haters have a common refrain—robots are bad for society.

4. a frequently occurring situation or series of events.

   The game followed a familiar refrain: a strong first quarter start that eventually fizzles out.

refrain

²

[ri-freyn]

verb (used without object)

1. to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed byfrom ).

   I refrained from telling him what I thought.

   Synonyms: desist, forbear

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic.,  to curb.

refrain

¹

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

noun

1. a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song

2. a much repeated saying or idea

refrain

²

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

verb

1. to abstain (from action); forbear

refrain

1. In some pieces of verse, a set of words repeated at the end of each stanza.

Other Word Forms

• refrainer noun
• refrainment noun
• unrefrained adjective
• unrefraining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refrain¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Middle French refreyne, from Old French refrain, derivative of refraindre “to break sequence” from Vulgar Latin refrangere (unattested) for Latin refringere “to refract ”

Origin of refrain²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English refreinen, from Old French refre(i)ner, from Latin refrēnāre “to bridle,” derivative of re- re- + frēn(um) “bridle”

Word History and Origins

Origin of refrain¹

C14: via Old French, ultimately from Latin refringere to break into pieces

Origin of refrain²

C14: from Latin refrēnāre to check with a bridle, from _re- + frēnum a bridle

Example Sentences

"As this is a live investigation, please refrain from speculating online as this could prejudice the ongoing case."

Read more on BBC

It called on countries to "refrain from the threat or use of force ... against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state".

Read more on Barron's

This autumn they could and should be three wins from three, but this is another tiresome refrain.

Read more on BBC

Nvidia typically refrains from projecting beyond a single quarter ahead, but it suggested Wednesday that such an aggressive target could actually prove conservative.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Until Smith's bite at Panesar, players on both teams had refrained from involvement in hostility towards each other.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abstain 
• avoid 
• cease 
• curb 
• desist 
• forgo 
• halt 
• renounce 
• resist 
• restrain