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refrain

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/

The English word “refrain” has 7 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
  2. To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
  3. To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb.
  4. To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain; to eschew
  5. To abstain from (food or drink).

noun

  1. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
  2. A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-Norman refrener, Old French refrener, from Latin refrēnāre, from re- + frēnāre, from frēnum.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.