refrain

¹

[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

²

[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

¹

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

verb

1. to abstain (from action); forbear

refrain

²

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

noun

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

2. a much repeated saying or idea

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

Origin of refrain²

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 ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of refrain¹

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

Origin of refrain²

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

Example Sentences

"We urge Iran to refrain from any escalatory action," they said in a joint statement, adding: "The reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomacy."

From BBC

Experts fear that if parents refrain from getting their children vaccinated as a result of his unfounded claims, it risks the re-emergence of diseases like measles.

From BBC

Apple has mostly refrained from airing its dirty laundry in public - at the request of the regulator, it said.

From BBC

The song was to the tune of “Be Our Guest,” the “Beauty and The Beast” classic — except the repeating refrain is “shut your trap.”

From Los Angeles Times

Beéle has not commented personally, instead sharing the statement via his official Instagram account and urging media outlets and social media users to refrain from sharing the material.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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