• IPA: /ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/

refrain (refrains, present participle refraining; past and past participle refrained)

1. (transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Proverbs 1:15 ↗:

     Refrain thy foot from their path.

2. (reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back. [from 14th c.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts V:

     And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].

3. (transitive, now rare) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb. [from 14th c.]

   • his reson aperceyueth it wel that it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson / refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent.

4. (intransitive) To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain. [from 15th c.]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Acts 5:38 ↗:

     Refrain from these men, and let them alone.

   • They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.

5. (transitive, now rare, regional) To abstain from (food or drink). [from 16th c.]

   • Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.

• Italian: trattenersi
• Portuguese: refrear

• Italian: astenersi
• Portuguese: abster-se (de)
• Russian: воздержа́ться

• French: se retenir, s'abstenir
• German: sich zurückhalten, Abstand nehmen von
• Italian: contenersi, frenarsi
• Portuguese: abster-se
• Spanish: abstenerse, retenerse

refrain (plural refrains)

1. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
2. A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.

• French: refrain
• German: Refrain
• Italian: ritornello
• Portuguese: refrão
• Russian: припе́в
• Spanish: estribillo