WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Re*frain" (r*frn")
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refr, 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.]
Definition : 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.

t. [imp. & p. p. Refrained (-frnd"); p. pr. & vb/ n. Refraining.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Re*frain"
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: 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.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Re*frain"
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. Pr. refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain, v.]
Definition : Defn: 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913