Refrain definitions Webster's 1828 Dictionary REFRA'IN, v.t. [L ... hold back; to restrain; to keep from action. My son - refrain thy foot from their path. Proverbs 1. Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by. Genesis 45. REFRA ... abstain; to keep one's self from action or interference. Refrain from these men and let them alone. Acts 5. REFRA ... a soloist is joined by a group of singers [syn: refrain, chorus] v 1: resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain, forbear] [ant: act, move] 2: choose not to consume; " ...
... hold. See Tenant.] In a general sense, to forbear, or refrain from, voluntarily; but used chiefly to denote a restraint upon the passions or appetites; to refrain from indulgence. Abstain from meats offered to idols. Acts 15 ... abstain from luxuries. WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005) v 1: refrain from voting 2: choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" [syn: abstain, refrain, desist] [ant: consume, have, ingest, take, take in] Merriam Webster ... re to hold — more at thin Date: 14th century to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from ... v.intr. 1 a (usu. foll. by from) restrain oneself; refrain from indulging in (abstained from cakes and sweets; abstained ...
... knocking down all ten after rolling two balls v 1: refrain from harming [syn: spare, save] 2: save or relieve from ... 1. to forbear to destroy, punish, or harm 2. to refrain from attacking or reprimanding with necessary or salutary severity 3 ... doing or undergoing something < spare yourself the trouble > 4. to refrain from ; avoid < spared no expense > 5. to use or dispense ... to spare > intransitive verb 1. to be frugal 2. to refrain from doing harm • spareable adjective • sparer noun II. adjective (sparer ... others spare, Divided between carelessness and care. --Pope. 2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance. He will ... vengeance. --Prov. vi. 34. 3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Webster's 1913 Dictionary Spare Spare, a. [ ...
... head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off] 3: refrain from doing something; "She refrains from calling her therapist too ... often"; "He should avoid publishing his wife's memories" 4: refrain from certain foods or beverages; "I keep off drugs"; "During ... the occurrence or effectiveness of < avoid further delays > c. to refrain from < avoid overeating > 4. archaic to depart or withdraw from ... noun Oxford Reference Dictionary v.tr. 1 keep away or refrain from (a thing, person, or action). 2 escape; evade. 3 ... fight shy of, have nothing to do with. 2. Forbear, refrain from, help (after cannot). Moby Thesaurus abstain, abstain from, avert ... up, preclude, prevent, prohibit, pull back, quail, recoil, reel back, refrain, refrain from, retreat, sheer off, shrink, shrink back, shun, ...
... on two rhymes; the opening phrase is repeated as the refrain of the second and third stanzas [syn: rondeau, rondel] Merriam ... first line of the first stanza used as an independent refrain after the second and third stanzas b. a poem in ... form 2. a monophonic trouvère song with a 2-part refrain Britannica Concise One of several formes fixes (fixed forms) in ... the first line of the first stanza serves as the refrain of the second and third stanzas. Oxford Reference Dictionary n ... throughout and with the opening words used twice as a refrain. Etymology: F, earlier rondel: see RONDEL Webster's 1913 Dictionary ... species of lyric poetry so composed as to contain a refrain or repetition which recurs according to a fixed law, ...
... from whom you are descended [syn: forebear, forbear] v 1: refrain from doing; "she forbore a snicker" [syn: forbear, hold back ... from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping" [syn: refrain, forbear] [ant: act, move] Merriam Webster's I. verb (forbore ... for- + beran to bear. See Bear to support.] 1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay. Shall I go against ... stay, hold, break off, leave off, give over. 2. Abstain, refrain. 3. Be tolerant, endure, be patient. II. v. a. 1 ... melt, never touch, not touch, not use, pardon, pass up, refrain, refrain from, relax, relent, reprieve, reserve, restrain, sacrifice, save, shun, ...
... remarks left us speechless" 4: leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking; "leave it as is"; "leave the young fawn ... left have remaining (has no friends left). leave alone 1 refrain from disturbing, not interfere with. 2 not have dealings with. leave be colloq. refrain from disturbing, not interfere with. leave behind 1 go away ... alone. (a) To leave in solitude. (b) To desist or refrain from having to do with; as, to leave dangerous chemicals ... Commit, consign, refer. 5. Stop, forbear, cease from, desist from, refrain from, leave off, break off, make an end of. 6 ... put forth leaves, put out buds, quit, quit cold, recess, refrain from, reject, release, relinquish, render, renege, renounce, renounce the ...
... estate is held by copy of court-roll. 11. To refrain; to stop; to restrain; to withhold. Hold your laughter. Hold ... believe it will hold. The anchor holds well. 5. To refrain. His dauntless heart would fain have held From weeping. 6 ... to or for oneself. 3 (often foll. by from) hesitate; refrain. hold-back n. a hindrance. hold one's breath see ... Matt. vi. 24 5. To restrain one's self; to refrain. His dauntless heart would fain have held From weeping, but ... rebuff, receive, reckon, reckon among, reckon in, reckon with, reduce, refrain, refrain from, refuse, regard, reign, rein, rein in, reinforce, reins ...
... cleans his room" [syn: withhold, keep back] 2: retain and refrain from disbursing; of payments; "My employer is withholding taxes" [syn ... action ; check 2. archaic to keep in custody 3. to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing < withhold permission > 4. to deduct (withholding tax) from income intransitive verb forbear, refrain < withhold from commenting > Synonyms: see keep • withholder noun Oxford Reference ... prohibit, pull, pull in, put apart, put aside, put by, refrain, refrain from, refuse, rein, rein in, reserve, restrain, retain, retard, retrench ...
... promote 4. a. to change for the better b. to refrain from ; avoid < we couldn't help laughing > c. to keep ... can't be helped). 6 (usu. with neg.) a tr. refrain from (can't help it; could not help laughing). b refl. refrain from acting (couldn't help himself). 7 tr. (often foll ... 4. Prevent, hinder, withstand, resist, repress, control. 5. Avoid, forbear, refrain from. II. v. n. Lend aid, contribute assistance, give a ... assistance, public welfare, purloin, quicken, rally, receipt, recipe, reclaim, redeem, refrain from, relief, relieve, remedial measure, remedy, remove friction, render a ...
... 1. archaic a bass or accompanying part 2. a. chorus, refrain b. a central topic ; theme Oxford Reference Dictionary n. & v ... burthen) a ship's carrying-capacity, tonnage. 5 a the refrain or chorus of a song. b the chief theme or ... the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt ... trial, trouble, sorrow, affliction, drag weight, dead weight. 5. Chorus, refrain. 6. Main topic, drift, tenor, point, substance, reiterated doctrine. II ... it, put upon, put with, quantity, quatrain, question, red-handedness, refrain, repeat, repetend, reprehensibility, reproachableness, reprovability, reprovableness, resolution, respect, response, rest ...
... your cool" [syn: restrain, keep, keep back, hold back] 3: refrain from doing; "she forbore a snicker" [syn: forbear, hold back ... advancing to the next stage, grade, or level 2. to refrain from revealing or parting with < held back important information > intransitive verb 1. to keep oneself in check 2. to refrain from revealing or parting with something Collin's Cobuild Dictionary ... pull, pull in, put apart, put aside, put by, reef, refrain, refrain from, rein, rein in, relax, repress, reserve, resist, restrain, retain ...
... from the guilt or penalty of < remit sins > b. to refrain from exacting < remit a tax > c. to cancel or refrain from inflicting < remit the penalty > d. to give relief from ... Dictionary v. & n. --v. (remitted, remitting) 1 tr. cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting (a debt or punishment etc.). 2 ... they are remitted unto them. --John xx. 23. 7. To refrain from exacting or enforcing; as, to remit the performance of ...
... for later > < kept some out for a friend > d. to refrain from revealing < keep a secret > 4. a. to retain in ... possession or power < kept the money we found > b. to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing < kept the news back > c ... immediate action < the matter will keep until morning > 4. abstain, refrain < can't keep from talking > 5. to be in session ... keeps to-day. [Colloq.] To keep from, to abstain or refrain from. To keep in with, to keep on good terms ...
... in which a line or phrase is repeated as the refrain Merriam Webster's noun Etymology: Middle English, modification of Middle ... rondel Date: 15th century 1. a simple song with a refrain 2. a poem with a refrain recurring frequently or at fixed intervals as in a rondel ... Oxford Reference Dictionary n. a short simple song with a refrain. Etymology: F rondelet (as RONDEL), with assim. to LAY(3 ...