refrain

[ ri-freyn ]

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR refrain ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed by from): I refrained from telling him what I thought.

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to curb.

Origin of refrain

1300–50; Middle English refreinen<Old French refrener<Latin refrēnāre to bridle, equivalent to re-re- + frēn(um) bridle + -āre infinitive suffix

SYNONYMS FOR refrain

1 forbear, desist.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR refrain ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM refrain

re·frain·er, nounre·frain·ment, nounun·re·frained, adjectiveun·re·frain·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH refrain

refrain , restrain

Definition for refrain (2 of 2)

refrain²

[ ri-freyn ]

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

noun

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

Music.

a musical setting for the refrain of a poem.
any melody.
the principal, recurrent section of a rondo.

an often heard statement, opinion, etc.: Today’s technology haters have a common refrain—robots are bad for society.

a frequently occurring situation or series of events:The game followed a familiar refrain: a strong first quarter start that eventually fizzles out.

Origin of refrain

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”

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for refrain

Fearing another backlash, however, the government has refrained from doing so.
Jafar Panahi: Filmmaking Ban Is My Iranian Prison|Jamsheed Akrami|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He later reported that he “from decency, refrained from asking her about Tupac.”
Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed|Michael Daly|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Politico at least has refrained from giving us a headline praising Ryan today.
Ryan's Mixed Reception, I Think|Michael Tomasky|March 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There were gun advocates in that room who waited for their turn to be heard and who refrained from confronting a grieving man.
The Newtown Heckling Controversy|David Frum|January 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

This time around, when he came to New York in September, he refrained from making a prediction, lest he be wrong again.
Many Iranians See Nuke Talks, No Military Attack With Obama Reelection|Omid Memarian|November 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But he refrained, stopping suddenly, because he recollected that he could no longer utter what he wished to say.
The Golden Butterfly|Walter Besant
With a clear sense of his power, he placed bounds on his campaigns: as we saw, he refrained from attacking Egypt.
The History of Antiquity, Vol. III (of VI)|Max Duncker
Being without medical comforts of any description I was powerless to render assistance, so refrained from even quitting the house.
Life and sport in China|Oliver G. Ready
It was entirely for Eleanor's sake that I refrained from taking her into my confidence.
Simon the Jester|William J. Locke
She refrained from opening it, but, taking it down to the dingle, she flung it into the deepest pool in the brook.
A Patriotic Schoolgirl|Angela Brazil

British Dictionary definitions for refrain (1 of 2)

refrain¹

/ (rɪˈfreɪn) /

verb

(intr usually foll by from) to abstain (from action); forbear

Derived forms of refrain

refrainer, nounrefrainment, noun

Word Origin for refrain

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

British Dictionary definitions for refrain (2 of 2)

refrain²

/ (rɪˈfreɪn) /

noun

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

a much repeated saying or idea

Word Origin for refrain

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for refrain

refrain

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

单词	refrain
释义	refrain ¹ [ ri-freyn ] / rɪˈfreɪn / SEE SYNONYMS FOR refrain ON THESAURUS.COM verb (used without object) to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed by from): I refrained from telling him what I thought. verb (used with object) Archaic. to curb. Origin of refrain ¹ 1300–50; Middle English refreinen<Old French refrener<Latin refrēnāre to bridle, equivalent to re-re- + frēn(um) bridle + -āre infinitive suffix SYNONYMS FOR refrain 1 forbear, desist. SEE SYNONYMS FOR refrain ON THESAURUS.COM OTHER WORDS FROM refrain re·frain·er, nounre·frain·ment, nounun·re·frained, adjectiveun·re·frain·ing, adjective WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH refrain refrain , restrain Definition for refrain (2 of 2) refrain² [ ri-freyn ] / rɪˈfreɪn / noun a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus. Music. a musical setting for the refrain of a poem. any melody. the principal, recurrent section of a rondo. an often heard statement, opinion, etc.: Today’s technology haters have a common refrain—robots are bad for society. a frequently occurring situation or series of events:The game followed a familiar refrain: a strong first quarter start that eventually fizzles out. Origin of refrain ² 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” Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for refrain Fearing another backlash, however, the government has refrained from doing so. Jafar Panahi: Filmmaking Ban Is My Iranian Prison\|Jamsheed Akrami\|July 8, 2014\|DAILY BEAST He later reported that he “from decency, refrained from asking her about Tupac.” Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed\|Michael Daly\|June 22, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Politico at least has refrained from giving us a headline praising Ryan today. Ryan's Mixed Reception, I Think\|Michael Tomasky\|March 12, 2013\|DAILY BEAST There were gun advocates in that room who waited for their turn to be heard and who refrained from confronting a grieving man. The Newtown Heckling Controversy\|David Frum\|January 30, 2013\|DAILY BEAST This time around, when he came to New York in September, he refrained from making a prediction, lest he be wrong again. Many Iranians See Nuke Talks, No Military Attack With Obama Reelection\|Omid Memarian\|November 8, 2012\|DAILY BEAST But he refrained, stopping suddenly, because he recollected that he could no longer utter what he wished to say. The Golden Butterfly\|Walter Besant With a clear sense of his power, he placed bounds on his campaigns: as we saw, he refrained from attacking Egypt. The History of Antiquity, Vol. III (of VI)\|Max Duncker Being without medical comforts of any description I was powerless to render assistance, so refrained from even quitting the house. Life and sport in China\|Oliver G. Ready It was entirely for Eleanor's sake that I refrained from taking her into my confidence. Simon the Jester\|William J. Locke She refrained from opening it, but, taking it down to the dingle, she flung it into the deepest pool in the brook. A Patriotic Schoolgirl\|Angela Brazil British Dictionary definitions for refrain (1 of 2) refrain¹ / (rɪˈfreɪn) / verb (intr usually foll by from) to abstain (from action); forbear Derived forms of refrain refrainer, nounrefrainment, noun Word Origin for refrain C14: from Latin refrēnāre to check with a bridle, from re- + frēnum a bridle British Dictionary definitions for refrain (2 of 2) refrain² / (rɪˈfreɪn) / noun a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song a much repeated saying or idea Word Origin for refrain C14: via Old French, ultimately from Latin refringere to break into pieces Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to refrain melody, theme, abstain, halt, renounce, avoid, forgo, resist, desist, cease, restrain, curb, strain, music, burden, tune, song, forbear, quit, inhibit Cultural definitions for refrain refrain In some pieces of verse, a set of words repeated at the end of each stanza. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
随便看	any port in a storm anyroad anything anything but anything goes anything like anytime anyway anyways anywhere anywheres anywise anz anza anzaas anzac anzac day anzengruber bergsma bergson bergsonism bergström berg wind bergy bit bergère

refrain

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of refrain

SYNONYMS FOR refrain

OTHER WORDS FROM refrain

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH refrain

Definition for refrain (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of refrain

Example sentences from the Web for refrain

British Dictionary definitions for refrain (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of refrain

Word Origin for refrain

British Dictionary definitions for refrain (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for refrain

Words related to refrain

Cultural definitions for refrain