Re*frain" (r?*fr?n"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Refrained (-fr?nd"); p.
pr. & vb/ n. Refraining.] [OE. refreinen, OF.
refrener, F. refr&?;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&?; to hold.]
1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within
prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.
His reson 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.
Re*frain", v. i. 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.
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.
We hear the wild refrain.
Whittier.
