Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel
than to refrain cold drink.
Sir T. Browne.
Re*frain", v. i. To keep one's self from action or interference; to
hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain.
Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
Acts v. 38.
They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
Sir T. Browne.
Syn. -- To hold back; forbear; abstain; withhold.
Re*frain", n. [F. refrain, fr. OF. refraindre; cf. 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.
Whittier.
Re*frain"er (r?*fr?n"?r), n. One who refrains.