Hypertext Webster Gateway: "refraining"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Refrain \Re*frain"\ (r?*fr?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refrained}
(-fr?nd"); p. pr. & vb/ n. {Refraining}.] [OE. refreinen, OF.
refrener, F. refr?ner, fr. L. refrenare; influenced by OF.
refraindre to restrain, moderate, fr. LL. refrangere, for L.
refringere to break up, break (see {Refract}). L. refrenare
is fr. pref. re- back + frenum bridle; cf. Skr. dh? to hold.]
1. To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed
bounds; to curb; to govern.
His reson refraineth not his foul delight or talent.
--Chaucer.
Refrain thy foot from their path. --Prov. i. 15.
2. To abstain from [Obs.]
Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no
other counsel than to refrain cold drink. --Sir T.
Browne.
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