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Added 9 October 2026

refrain

/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/ noun

In Latin: parcō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about refrain at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers.

verb

Resist doing something.
He refrained from hitting him back
Choose not to consume.
I abstain from alcohol

Origin

Inherited from Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-Norman refrener, Old French refrener, from Latin refrēnāre, from re- + frēnāre, from frēnum.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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