English Dictionary: Refraining | by the DICT Development Group |
1 result for Refraining | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Refrain \Re*frain"\ (r?*fr?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refrained} (-fr?nd"); p. pr. & vb/ n. {Refraining}.] [OE. refreinen, OF. refrener, F. refr[?]ner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF. refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L. refringere to break up, break (see {Refract}). L. refrenare is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh[?] to hold.] 1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern. His reson refraineth not his foul delight or talent. --Chaucer. Refrain thy foot from their path. --Prov. i. 15. 2. To abstain from [Obs.] Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T. Browne. |