refrain
oxford
views updated May 23 2018re·frain1 / riˈfrān/ •
v. [intr.] stop oneself from doing something: she refrained from comment.re·frain2 •
n. a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse. ∎ the musical accompaniment for such a line or number of lines. ∎ a comment or complaint that is often repeated: “Poor Tom” had become the constant refrain of his friends.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
refrain
oxford
views updated May 29 2018refrain1 burden of a poem or song (recurring at intervals and so breaking the sequence). XIV. — (O)F.
refrain, †
refrein, succeeding to earlier
refrait,
-eit, sb. use of pp. of †
refraindre break, etc.:- Rom. *
refrangere, for L.
refringere, f.
RE- +
frangere BREAK1.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
refrain
oxford
views updated May 29 2018refrain2 †restrain; abstain. XIV. — (O)F.
refréner — L.
refrēnāre bridle, f.
RE- +
frēnum bridle.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
refrain
oxford
views updated May 29 2018refrain. That part of a song which recurs at the end of each stanza. Refers to both words and mus. Corresponds to poetic ‘burden’. In popular 20th-cent. mus., ‘chorus’ is used as synonym.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE
