1. v.intr. (foll. by from) avoid doing (an action) (refrain from smoking).
Derivatives:
refrainment n.
Etymology: ME f. OF refrener f. L refrenare (as RE-, frenum bridle) 2. n.1 a recurring phrase or number of lines, esp. at the ends of stanzas.
2 the music accompanying this.
Etymology: ME f. OF refrain (earlier refrait) ult. f. L refringere (as RE-, frangere break), because the refrain 'broke' the sequence