Refrain
Refrain (re*frān") , transitive verb
[Old English refreinen, Old French refrener, French refréner, from Latin refrenare; influenced by Old French refraindre to restrain, moderate, from Late Latin refrangere, for Latin refringere to break up, break (see Refract). Latin refrenare is from pref. re- back + frenum bridle; compare Sanskrit dhr to hold.]
1.
To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.
His reason refraineth not his foul delight or talent.
Refrain thy foot from their path.
2.
To abstain from. [Obsolete]
Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.
Refrain , intransitive verb
To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain.
Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
Refrain , noun
[French refrain, from Old French refraindre; compare Pr. refranhs a refrain, refranher to repeat. See Refract,Refrain, v.]
The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic composition.
We hear the wild refrain.