▪ I. refrain, n.1
(rɪˈfreɪn)
Forms: 4 refreyne, 5 refreyn, 6 refreine, (7 reffrein); 6 refraynt, 7– refrain, (8 -e).
[a. OF. refrein, refrain = Prov. refranh, Cat. refrá, Sp. refran, Pg. refrão, in the same sense, ultimately f. pop. L. *refrangĕre (OF. refraindre) to break back, break again. See also refreit.]
A phrase or verse recurring at intervals, esp. at the end of each stanza of a poem or song; a burden, chorus. Also transf.
App. not in very common use before the 19th century.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 1522 (1571) But euere more allas was his refreyn. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 128 Remembre sothely that I the refreyn tooke, Of..my maister Chaucier, chief poete of Bretayne. 1530 Palsgr. 261/2 Refraynt of a balade, refraynt. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Envoy, the refreine of a Ballade, that is, the foot of a song. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1271 In all the actions of Alexander, a man may use this for a reffrein or faburden, All Philosophically. 1778 R. Lowth Transl. Isaiah Notes xl. 191 Dancing and throwing in alternately the refrain or burthen of the song. 1795 Mason Ch. Mus. 213 To confine the Organist to a slightly ornamented Refraine, or Ritornello at the end of each Stave or Stanza. 1835 Willis Melanie 36 When another sang the strain, I mingled in the old refrain. 1860 Adler Prov. Poet. xviii. 408 The song was divided into several stanzas, each of which terminated in a refrain. 1877 Black Green Past. xiv. (1878) 114 These old phrases and chance refrains seemed to suggest themselves quite naturally. |
▪ II. † reˈfrain, n.2 Obs. rare—1.
In 6 refrane.
[f. refrain v.]
Restraint.
| c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) iv. 86 The denkest sounest doun, The farest but refrane, The gayest grittest loun. |
▪ III. refrain, v.
(rɪˈfreɪn)
Forms: 4–5 refreyne(n, 5 -nyn), 5–6 refreyn, (5 Sc. ra-), 6–7 refrein(e; 4, 6 refreigne, (4 Sc. refrenȝe), 4–6 refrene, (7 refræne); 4–6 refrayn(e, 5–6 refrane, 5–7 refraine, 6– refrain.
[ad. OF. refrener (12th c.; mod.F. refréner): ad. L. refrēnāre to bridle, f. re- re- + frēnum, frænum bridle.]
I. trans.
† 1. To restrain, hold back, check (a person or thing). Obs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 278 Þat meyntenours of false causes..be wisly refreyned & scharply ponyschid. 1388 ― Bible, Ezek. xxxi. 15, I forbede his flodis, and Y refreynede [L. coercui] many watris. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 292 b/2, I shalle soo refrayne hym that he shalle no more dare demaunde suche thyng. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xxv. (S.T.S.) I. 232 Nowthir schame nor fere of þare Inemyis mycht refrene þame. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xxvi. 99 b, Jesus refrayned them saying: Why be ye greued with this woman? 1633 G. Herbert Temple Ded. 6 Turn their eyes hither, who shall make a gain: Theirs, who shall hurt themselves or me, refrain. 1645 M. Casaubon Orig. Temp. Evils 42 What then..would they do, if God did use no such means, no such examples to refrain them? |
b. refl. To restrain, put restraint upon (oneself); to repress any manifestation of emotion, impatience, etc. Now arch.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 317, I am suche oon by kynde, but I refreyne [v.r. refreigne] me by vertue. c 1400 Beryn 2745 Wherfor refreyne the, And blowe but fair & sofft. 1535 Coverdale Gen. xlv. 1 Then coude not Ioseph refrayne him self before all them that stode aboute him. a 1861 Clough Poems on Life & Duty, In a London Square ii, And thou, O human heart of mine, Be still, refrain thyself, and wait. 1895 Westm. Gaz. 4 Oct. 1/2 For the first six months..the Party..refrained themselves and kept low. |
† c. (In lit. sense.) To rein back, rein in (a horse).
| c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 6387 He..Refreyned his hors, and come hem too. Ibid. 6431 Gentil knight, refreyn youre stede. 1515 Barclay Egloges iv. (1570) C iij b/1 But if this same colte be broken at the last, His sitter ruleth and him refrayneth fast. |
† d. Astrol. in pass. Of a planet: To receive a check and become retrograde before attaining conjunction with another. Obs.
| 1598 G. C. Math. Phisicke E iv b, Venus seeking the conjunction of Saturn by retr[ogradation] is refrayned. [1606 Fage Spec. ægrot. E iv, Sometimes by accidents..their friendship and familiaritie is refrained.] |
† e. Sc. To hold, contain. Obs. rare—1.
| 1542 Inv. R. Wardr. (1815) 72 Item twa doubill planttis [? read plattis] to refrane heit watter in maner of schoufer. |
2. To hold back, restrain (a person or thing) from something, esp. some act or course of action. † Also const. of. Now rare.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xvi. (Magd.) 230 Scho..presyt hyre in mony wyse þame to refrenȝe fra sik seruice of ydolis. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11305 Eneas..Refraynit Amphimacus of his frike wille. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 5 God comfort the..and refrayne the from flesshely and bestly desires. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. ccxxiii. 249 In auoydynge wherof..he lytell & lytell refrayned theym of theyr outrage. 1535 Coverdale Ps. cxviii. [cxix.] 101, I refrayne my fete from euery euell waye. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. (1895) 222 They..cowlde not for all that be refreyned from mysdoynge. 1602 Nixon Eliza's Mem. cxxxi. in Farr S.P. Eliz. (1845) II. 556 To make us of true light participate, Whereby our steps from darknes are refrain'd. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 360 Nor from the Holie One of Heav'n Refrein'd [he] his tongue blasphemous. 1883 Tennyson Charge Heavy Brigade Epil. 14 Trade [might] refrain the Powers From war. |
| absol. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4956 But Eelde gan ageyn restreyne From sich foly, and refreyne. |
† b. refl. To restrain (oneself) from some action, etc. Obs. (cf. 9).
| a 1400–50 Alexander 4638 If ȝe refreyne ȝow þar-fra..ȝow writhis with ȝour wele. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 22 He that wille..refrayne him from ouirmoche etyng and drynkyng. 1535 Coverdale Acts v. 38 And now I saye vnto you: refrayne youre selues from these men, and let them go. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 3 She doth not for onely feare of punishment refraine her self from sinning. 1581 Rich Farew. viii. A a iij, Thei haue not bin able to refraine themselues, from prosecuting their follie to the ende. |
† c. Const. with inf. or that. Obs.
| c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7782 Þe enmys to wende him refreynd. c 1500 Three Kings' Sons 192 Assone as..he knewe it was Le Surnome, he coude not refrayne him to kisse him. 1535 Coverdale Acts xiv. 50 They scarse refrayned the people, that they dyd not sacrifice vnto them. c 1570 Pride & Lowl. (1841) 12 Ill can I take at thy hand such despit, And that to dooe thee force I mee refrayn. |
† 3. To restrain, curb, check, stay (an action, proceeding, feeling, quality, etc.). Obs.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxviii. (Margaret) 8 Vertu It is blud to restrenȝe, & flux of wame refrenȝe. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 278 Þat þe grete blasphemye of goddis name..be refreyned bi drede of peynes. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1592 He was euer mare in his office Bysy to refreyn vice. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour F iv, By curtosye and by swete langage ought the good wymmen to refreyne the yre and wrathe of their lord. 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 120 Yf we coude fynd a way to tempur and refrayne thayr malyce. 1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 15 b, The same refrayneth the breaking up of the stomake. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xxxi. 153 b, To the intent to refraine superfluity and dayntinesse. 1637 R. Ashley tr. Malvezzi's David Persecuted 227 It is not altogether impossible to refraine nature a long time. 1683 Tryon Way to Health 107 [When] the continual use hath made this weak Quality strong, then it oft-times proves..a difficulty to Refrain it. |
† b. To withhold or keep back from another.
| 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. vii. l, And I dyd my power from hym refrayne All his labour were lost in vayne. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 37 A strange nicenesse were it in mee to refraine that from the eares of a person representing so much worthines. |
4. To put a restraint or check upon (one's own desires, feelings, actions, etc.).
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 756, I schal..my rankor refrayne for þy reken wordez. 1382 Wyclif Jas. i. 26 If ony man gessith him silf for to be religious, not refreynynge his tunge,..the religioun of him is veyn. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xx. 67 We haue no myght oure sorowe to refreyne. 1483 Caxton Cato B v b, Thou oughtest to refrayne thyn yre. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 64 Certainly ye ought to..refraine your prodigalitie and riot. 1584 Cogan Haven Health Ep. Ded. ¶3 A great punishment it is for a man to refraine his appetite. 1647 Lilly Chr. Astrol. ii. 312 She refraines and restraines her Concupiscence very much, and casts off her Suitors. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 85 That even then Mr. Bayes alone should not be able to refrain his Malignity. 1725 Pope Odyss. i. 100 Neptune aton'd, his wrath shall now refrain. 1773–83 Hoole Orl. Fur. xii. 258 Say—whither would ye go?—your course refrain. 1846 Kingsley Misc. (1859) II. 348, I..meddled in matters too high for me, instead of refraining my soul, and keeping it low. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 498 When we heard that, we were ashamed, and refrained our tears. |
b. To confine, keep within bounds. rare—1.
| 1814 Cary Dante, Paradise xxii. 49 My brethren, who their steps refrain'd Within the cloisters. |
† 5. To keep from (an action), desist from, give up.
| 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. ii. 110 Scarse I can refraine The execution of my big-swolne heart Vpon that Clifford. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xii. 55 One of the wise men gaue him aduice to refrain his cumming there, for it was the fatal place of his death. 1676 Marvell Gen. Councils Wks. 1875 IV. 154 Whereas if men could have refrain'd this cunning..governing of Christianity [etc.]. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 907 Must my servant train Th' allotted labours of the day refrain..? |
† b. Const. with gerund or vbl. n. Obs. (cf. 9 b).
| 1561 T. Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer i. (1577) D iv, They come so to purpose, that hee can not refraine telling them. 1611 Bible Job xxix. 9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 1620 Venner Via Recta (1650) 5 Those that have tender bodies shall do well to refraine travelling abroad in such a disordered change of the aire. 1678 Otway Friendship in F. ii. 13 A spark can no more refrain running into love after a Bottle [etc.]. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 276 We could not refrain smiling at one another. 1745 Eliza Heywood Female Spect. No. 14 (1748) III. 104 Impossible was it for her to refrain being merry at the first part of this intelligence. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest v, She resolved, however, to refrain for some time walking in the forest. |
† c. To keep back (laughter or tears). Obs. rare.
| 1638 Mayne Lucian (1664) 16, I could not refraine laughter, when he proceeded, and said [etc.]. 1719 De Foe Crusoe ii. vi, This..man could not refrain tears. |
† 6. To abstain from (a habit or practice); to give up, avoid, eschew. Obs.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 28 That his adversaries may refraine theyr wonted rayling. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 16 Als oft as we repent, and sin refraine. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xii. 55 He began anew his feastings and ryot, which of some long time he had refrayned. 1658 Whole Duty Man viii. §15 Which would certainly kill thee if thou didst not for some little time refrain immoderate drinking. 1738 tr. Guazzo's Art Conversation 42 We ought to refrain Conversation with such sort of Persons. 1751 Eliza Heywood Betsy Thoughtless II. 267 Having been advised..to refrain the use of any of these liquors, on account of some disorder. |
† b. To abstain from using or partaking of (some article of food or drink). Obs.
| 1568 T. Hill Gard., Yearly Conject. v, Sharpe meates refraine in this moneth. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 447 They refraine wine, bicause they fear to take too much. 1641 Baker Chron. (1679) 401/1 She would sit silently, refrain her meat, and not admit of any conference. 1691 Tryon Wisd. Dictates 21 Refrain all salt sharp Foods, as Cheese, Flesh. |
† c. To keep the hands off (something). Obs.—1
| 1600 Tourneur Transf. Metam. liv, Thou monstrous fiend (quoth he) thy pray refrain. |
† 7. To avoid, shun, eschew (one's company). Obs.
| 1547–64 Bauldwin Mor. Philos. i. (Palfr.) 54 A king ought to refraine the company of vicious persons. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 145 Not disdayning their cockemates or refraining their company. 1629 Wadsworth Pilgr. vi. 53 Father Boniface..gaue order to his tutor to refraine my company. 1697 Sir T. P. Blount Ess. 148, I refrain no man's company because his opinion comes not up to mine. 1716 Bp. Wilson in Keble Life (1863) I. xi. 371 [He at once excommunicates the offender] that the Society of Christians may utterly refrain his company. |
† b. To avoid, keep or stay away from (a place); also, to go away from, to leave. Obs.
| 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccles. Hist. (1619) 290 Such as refrained the Churches and publike assembly. 1605 Play of Stucley in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 229 It is most certain there are many sick And therefore good my Lord refrain the place. 1621 Lady M. Wroth Urania 8, I must my Lord (said she) intreate you to refraine this place. a 1723 Robin Hood & Little John xxxviii. in Child Ballads III. 136/2 Then all the whole train the grove did refrain, And unto their caves they did go. 1748 Johnson Van. Hum. Wishes 149 Should tempting Novelty thy cell refrain. |
† c. To avoid or shun (danger). Obs. rare—1.
| c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxxii. 23 To refrane that denger plane, Fle alwayis frome þe snair. |
II. intr.
8. To abstain, forbear.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 2957 [Þou] might faire haue refraynit with þi fre wille. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 69 Over salt mete doth grete oppressioun To fieble stomakes, whan they can nat refreyne. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Rom. Prol. 24, I may of myne owne strength refraine that I do mine enemy no hurte. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 306, I wyll refrayne and wil aske him but this question only. 1605 Shakes. Macb. ii. iii. 122 Who could refraine, That had a heart to loue..? 1648 Milton Sonn. to C. Skinner, Heav'n..disapproves that care, though wise in show, That..when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains. 1715 De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. viii. (1841) I. 148, I am persuaded had you been there, you could not have refrained. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 456 Let the wretch refrain, Nor touch the page he cannot but profane. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. ii. 18 Till age, refrain not—but if old, refrain. 1875 Gladstone Glean. VI. xx. 154, I might, I believe, add other instances..but it is needless and I gladly refrain. |
| transf. 1522 Skelton Why not to Court 36 But whan age seeth that rage Dothe aswage and refrayne. 1886 Winter Shaks. Eng. ii. (1893) 21 Fog has refrained, though it is understood to be lurking in the Irish Sea. |
† b. Const. with to and inf. Obs.
| 1554–9 Songs & Ball. Philip & Mary (1860) 9 To synge the truthe, why shulde I refrayne? 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. Pref. (1573) 5 Lawrence Ualla..could not refrayne to enveygh against the Popish clergie. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Providence v, He that to praise and laud thee doth refrain. 1671 Milton Samson 1565, I refrain, too suddenly To utter what will come at last too soon. 1718 Rowe tr. Lucan v. 284 Why did your wary Oracles refrain To tell what Kings, what Heroes must be slain? |
9. To abstain, keep oneself, from some act or feeling, † using or partaking of something, interference with a person, etc.
| 1538 Starkey England ii. ii. 191 Thys schold cause the attorneys and prokturys to refrayne from theyr crafty inuentyonys. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 110 Learne of Romulus to refraine [1581 abstaine] from wine. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iv. i. 99 (Qq.) He, when he heares of her, can not refraine From the excesse of Laughter. 1611 Bible Acts v. 38 And now I say vnto you, refraine from these men, and let them alone. 1679 Dryden Troil. & Cress. Pref., Consider the wretchedness of his Condition..and refrain from pitty if you can. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 106 ¶3 Some of them could not refrain from Tears at the Sight of their old Master. 1777 Watson Philip II, vii. (1839) 123 That their preachers should refrain from all invectives against the established church. 1819 Shelley Julian 498, I refrain From that sweet sleep which medicines all pain. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 304 A man should refrain from excess either of laughter or tears. |
b. Const. from with gerund or vbl. n. (cf. 5 b).
| 1528 Roy Rede me (Arb.) 30 Howe shall we from hevy wepynge refrayne? 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 152 Refraine from dicing. 1620 tr. Boccaccio's Decam. 98 Refraine from weeping and observe attentively what I shall say. 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. ii. 275 For one single day I must refrain From visiting the sick. 1867 Smiles Huguenots Eng. viii. (1880) 134 Richelieu refrained from pushing his advantage to an extremity. |