REFRAIN


Meaning of REFRAIN in English

~ 1

■ verb (usu. ~ from ) stop oneself from doing something.

Origin

ME: from OFr. refrener , from L. refrenare , from re- (expressing intensive force) + frenum 'bridle'.

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~ 2

■ noun a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse.

↘the musical accompaniment for a ~.

Origin

ME: from OFr., from ~dre 'break', based on L. refringere 'break up' (because the ~ ‘broke’ the sequence).

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.