Refrain — Defs

01 v. t. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.

imp. & p. p. Refrained; p. pr. & vb. n. Refraining

1.
To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.
“His reason refraineth not his foul delight or talent.” — Chaucer.

“Refrain thy foot from their path.” — Prov. i. 15.
2.
To abstain from.[Obs.]
“Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.” — Sir T. Browne.

02 v. i. To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain.

1.
To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain.
“Refrain from these men, and let them alone.” — Acts v. 38.

“They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.” — Sir T. Browne.

Syn. To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold.

03 n. 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.

1.
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.
“We hear the wild refrain.” — Whittier.