5 January 2015
refrain (1)
[ri-freyn]
verb (used without object)
1. to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed by from):
I refrained from telling him what I thought.
verb (used with object)
2. Archaic. to curb.
Origin
Middle English, Old French, Latin
1300-1350; Middle English refreinen < Old French refrener < Latin refrēnāre to bridle, equivalent to re- re- + frēn (um) bridle + -āre infinitive suffix
Related forms
refrainer, noun
refrainment, noun
unrefrained, adjective
unrefraining, adjective
Can be confused
refrain, restrain.
Synonyms
1. forbear, desist.
refrain(2)
[ri-freyn]
noun
1. a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus.
2. Music.
a musical setting for the refrain of a poem.
any melody.
the principal, recurrent section of a rondo.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English refreyne < Old French refrain, derivative of refraindre to break sequence < Vulgar Latin *refrangere, for Latin refringere to refract
Dictionary.com
Examples from the web for refrain
– The oft-repeated refrain that more ice makes the drink cooler is an error.
– Please refrain from calling them anything else, even in small print, at the end of the last paragraph.
– He has heard the refrain that earthquakes are chaotic and unpredictable.
Anagram
fire ran
near fir
rare fin
Today’s aphorism
Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all people are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all people and all countries – not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.
– Albert Einstein.
On this day
5 January 1914 – Henry Ford introduces the $5 per day wage, which was double the rate previously offered. Ford believed it would help him keep his best people and that it would enable his workers to buy Ford cars.
5 January 1933 – work commences on San Fransisco’s Golden Gate bridge. It was completed on 19 April 1937. The bridge is 2.7km long and 227.4m high.
5 January 1945 – First use of kamikaze pilots. Battle of Lingayan Gulf, Philippines. Allied forces attack Japanese positions. Japan had a seriously weakened air force that was now mainly comprised of inexperienced pilots, so authorised the first use of kamikaze (divine wind) attacks. USA ships included the USS Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado. Australian ships included the HMAS Australia, Shropshire, Arunta, Warramunga, Gascoyne and Warrego. The Allies lost 30 ships, with 67 others damaged. Japanese casualties are unknown, however, the battle was a victory for the Allies.
5 January 1968 – the ‘Prague Spring’ in Czechoslovakia occurred through the political and economic reforms of leader Alexander Dubcek aimed at introducing ‘socialism with a human face’. The reforms included freedom of speech and allowing non-communist political organisations. The Soviet Union were less enthusiastic about these reforms and invaded Czechoslovakia with 600,000 troops.