refrain en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-Norman refrener, Old French refrener, from Latin refrēnāre, from re- + frēnāre, from frēnum.
Meanings
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(archaic, transitive) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
The presence even for a moment among a party of debauchees of a woman endued with every quality of modesty and not less severe than beautiful refrained the humorous sallies even of the most licentious but her departure was the signal for an outbreak of ribaldry.
1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 1: Telemachus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part I [Telemachia], page 14:Refrain thy foot from their path.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 1:15:
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(archaic, reflexive) To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].
1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts:As I went down the river, all dissatisfaction at my lot passed away, and by the time Dartmouth came in view I could no longer refrain myself, but threw my cap into the air, and barely caught it from falling overboard as I shouted, "Hurrah for merry England![…]"
1899, Sabine Baring-Gould, A Book of the West, Volume 1 Chapter 18:
- (archaic, transitive) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb.
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(intransitive, with preposition "from") To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain; to eschew
They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 5:38:July 5, 1731, Jonathan Swift, letter to Vanessa If you knew how I struggle for a little health, what uneasiness I am at in riding and walking, and refraining from every thing agreeable to my taste
I will [...] tell you the story of what has happened to me, if you like, but you must refrain from interruptions.
1895 May 29, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Time Traveler Returns”, in The Time Machine: An Invention, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 36:
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(rare, regional, transitive) To abstain from (food or drink).
Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.
1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| refrained | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| refrained | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| refraining | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| refrains | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Deriveds
refrainment · refrainer · unrefraining
Synonyms
Translations (49)
sv dra sig för ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · it astenersi ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · pl powstrzymać się ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · da afstå ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · sl vzdržati se ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · it contenersi ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · uk утри́муватися ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · sv avstå ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · cmn 避免 ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · cs vyhnout se ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · de sich zurückhalten ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · fr se retenir ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · de sich enthalten ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · mi whakakeke ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · pt abster-se (de) ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · cs zdržet se ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · es comedirse ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · pl powstrzymywać się ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · mi whakakāti ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · cs upustit ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · sv låta bli ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · da afholde sig ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · bg въздържам се ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · la parcō ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · fa خودداری کردن ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · nb avholde seg ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · sv avhålla sig ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · ar اِمْتَنَعَ ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · es refrenarse/enfrenarse/prescindir (de) ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · pt abster-se ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · de Abstand nehmen ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · az saqınmaq ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · it frenarsi ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · ja 差し控える ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · mi wainamu ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · cmn 戒除 ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · fi pidättäytyä ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · nl zich onthouden ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · de verzichten ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · de unterlassen ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · fr s'abstenir ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · uk утри́матися ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · ja 慎む ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · cs vyvarovat se ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · de absehen ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · nb avstå ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · nmn ǀa̰ã ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · nl zich niet inlaten met ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit) · fi pidättyä ((intransitive) to abstain (from) — see also abstain, contain oneself, retain, inhibit)