refrain

refrain · verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromrefrēnāre
2. Old French · derived fromrefrener
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromrefrener
4. Middle English · inherited fromrefreynen
5. English todayrefrain

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

refrain · noun²

1. Latin · derived fromre-“back, again”
2. French · derived fromrefrain
3. English todayrefrain

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.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
• from 14th c. To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
• from 14th c. To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb.
• from 15th c. To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain; to eschew
• from 16th c. To abstain from (food or drink).