I. rə̇ˈfrān, rēˈf- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English refreynen, from Middle French refraindre to restrain, moderate, echo, from Old French, alteration (influenced by fraindre to break, from Latin frangere ) of refreindre, from Latin refringere to refract, break off — more at refract
transitive verb
1. archaic : to hold back : put a restraint upon : curb , govern , restrain
2. obsolete : to abstain from : give up : avoid , shun
intransitive verb
: to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something : hold aloof : forbear , abstain
had an impulse to speak, but on second thought refrained
promised to obey our laws, support our government and refrain from treachery — Kenneth Roberts
carefully refrains from setting too great a store by miracle and prophecy — Times Literary Supplement
Synonyms:
abstain , forbear : refrain is more suitable than abstain or forbear to indicate checking or inhibiting an inclination or impulse, especially a momentary or passing one
no tolerable parent could refrain from praising a child when it first walks and when it first says an intelligible word — Bertrand Russell
I have since tried, not very successfully, to refrain from muttering proudly when the brighter young minds among contemporaries are mentioned: “Former student of mine!” — Irwin Edman
abstain is applicable to deliberate self-denial, renunciation, or nonparticipation on principle
the early Christians avoided contact with the State, abstained from the responsibilities of office, and were even reluctant to serve in the army — J.E.E.Dalberg-Acton
in time of war it was incumbent upon all wives who were left behind to live chaste lives, to make offerings to the gods, and to abstain from cutting their hair — J.G.Frazer
forbear may apply to instances of restraining, checking, or withholding motivated by self-restraint, patience, stoicism, compassion, or clemency
her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore to invite him to sit by herself — Jane Austen
he was not a seaman but a merchant who could not forbear the fun of setting sail with his merchandise — Times Literary Supplement
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English refreyn, from Middle French refrain, from refraindre to restrain, moderate, echo
: a phrase or verse which recurs regularly especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song : burden , chorus ; also : the musical setting of such a phrase or verse