Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: refrener, from Latin refrenare, from frenum 'bridle'

refrain

1 verb
     
re‧frain1 [intransitive] formal
to not do something that you want to do [↪ abstain]
refrain from (doing) something
Please refrain from smoking in this area.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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