reflexive. To restrain oneself.

To cease, refrain; = 14. Obsolete.

transitive. To restrain or keep (a person or thing) from something. Also reflexive: to refrain. Chiefly with from. Obsolete.

transitive (reflexive). To keep or withhold oneself. Frequently with †of, from. Now rare.

To keep back from action, hinder, prevent, restrain; reflexive to restrain oneself, refrain, forbear. Obsolete or archaic except in special phrases…

reflexive. To abstain, refrain, forbear. Obsolete.

reflexive. To restrain oneself, refrain. rare.

(figurative from 3.) To stop (action, growth, exhibition of feeling, and the like); to stay the course of; to repress, restrain.

transitive. To draw away or aside, withdraw, divert (from an action or undertaking); reflexive and intransitive. To withdraw, refrain. Obsolete.