Etymology Inherited from Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-Norman refrener, Old French refrener, from Latin refrēnāre, from re- + frēnāre, from frēnum.
1
Archaic To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
Refrain thy foot from their path.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 1:15:
The presence even for a moment among a party of debauchees of a woman endued with every quality of modesty and not less severe than beautiful refrained the humorous sallies even of the most licentious but her departure was the signal for an outbreak of ribaldry.1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 1: Telemachus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part I [Telemachia], page 14:
And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts:
As I went down the river, all dissatisfaction at my lot passed away, and by the time Dartmouth came in view I could no longer refrain myself, but threw my cap into the air, and barely caught it from falling overboard as I shouted, "Hurrah for merry England![…]"1899, Sabine Baring-Gould, A Book of the West, Volume 1 Chapter 18:
3
Archaic To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb.
4
With preposition "from" To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain; to eschew
Refrain from these men, and let them alone.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 5:38:
They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
2 more examples
July 5, 1731, Jonathan Swift, letter to Vanessa If you knew how I struggle for a little health, what uneasiness I am at in riding and walking, and refraining from every thing agreeable to my taste
I will [...] tell you the story of what has happened to me, if you like, but you must refrain from interruptions.1895 May 29, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “The Time Traveler Returns”, in The Time Machine: An Invention, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 36:
Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
Etymology From French refrain, from the Old French verb refraindre (“to break off, repeat”), from Latin re- (“back, again”) + frangō (“break”); compare Occitan refranhs (“a refrain”), refranher (“to repeat”). See refract and the verb refrain.
1
The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
For perhaps as much as thirty seconds they kept it up. It was a refrain that was often heard in moments of overwhelming emotion. Partly it was a sort of hymn to the wisdom and majesty of Big Brother, but still more it was an act of self-hypnosis, a deliberate drowning of consciousness by means of rhythmic noise.1949, George Orwell, chapter 1, in Nineteen Eighty-Four:
2
Broadly A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.