'Refrain' definitions:
Definition of 'refrain'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Refrain'
From: GCIDE
- Refrain \Re*frain"\ (r[-e]*fr[=a]n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refrained (-fr[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Refraining.] [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refr['e]ner, 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[.r] to hold.]
- 1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern. [1913 Webster]
- His reason refraineth not his foul delight or talent. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- Refrain thy foot from their path. --Prov. i. 15. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To abstain from. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Refrain'
From: GCIDE
- Refrain \Re*frain"\, v. i. To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain. [1913 Webster]
- Refrain from these men, and let them alone. --Acts v. 38. [1913 Webster]
- They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Refrain'
From: GCIDE
- Refrain \Re*frain"\, n. [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr. refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain, v.] 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. [1913 Webster]
- We hear the wild refrain. --Whittier. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'refrain'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abandon,
- abort,
- abstain,
- abstain from,
- addendum,
- afterthought,
- air,
- anacrusis,
- antistrophe,
- appendix,
- aria,
- arrest,
- avoid,
- back matter,
- bass passage,
- belay,
- bis,
- bob,
- book,
- bourdon,
- bridge,
- burden,
- cadence,
- cancel,
- canto,
- cantus,
- cease,
- chant,
- check,
- chorus,
- coda,
- codicil,
- colophon,
- conclusion,
- consequence,
- constrain,
- continuance,
- continuation,
- couplet,
- curb,
- cut it out,
- descant,
- desist,
- development,
- discontinue,
- dispense with,
- distich,
- ditto,
- division,
- do without,
- double take,
- drop it,
- dying words,
- end,
- envoi,
- epilogue,
- epode,
- eschew,
- exposition,
- figure,
- folderol,
- follow-through,
- follow-up,
- forbear,
- forgo,
- give over,
- give up,
- halt,
- harmonic close,
- have done with,
- heptastich,
- hexastich,
- hold,
- hold aloof from,
- hold back,
- hold off,
- inhibit,
- interlude,
- intermezzo,
- interrupt,
- introductory phrase,
- keep,
- keep back,
- keep from,
- keep in hand,
- knock it off,
- last words,
- lay,
- lay off,
- leave off,
- let alone,
- let go by,
- line,
- measure,
- melodia,
- melodic line,
- melody,
- monostich,
- movement,
- musical phrase,
- musical sentence,
- never touch,
- not touch,
- not use,
- note,
- octastich,
- octave,
- octet,
- ornament,
- ottava rima,
- part,
- Parthian shot,
- parting shot,
- pass up,
- passage,
- pentastich,
- period,
- peroration,
- phrase,
- postface,
- postfix,
- postlude,
- postscript,
- PS,
- quatrain,
- quit,
- refrain from,
- relinquish,
- renounce,
- repeat,
- repetend,
- reprise,
- reserve,
- resolution,
- response,
- restrain,
- rhyme royal,
- ritornello,
- save,
- scrub,
- second thought,
- section,
- septet,
- sequel,
- sequela,
- sequelae,
- sequelant,
- sequent,
- sequitur,
- sestet,
- sextet,
- shun,
- solo,
- solo part,
- song,
- soprano part,
- spare,
- Spenserian stanza,
- stand aloof from,
- stanza,
- statement,
- stave,
- stay,
- stop,
- strain,
- strophe,
- subscript,
- suffix,
- supplement,
- swan song,
- syllable,
- tag,
- tailpiece,
- tercet,
- terminate,
- terza rima,
- tetrastich,
- treble,
- triplet,
- tristich,
- tune,
- tutti,
- tutti passage,
- undersong,
- variation,
- verse,
- waive,
- withhold