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refrain2

Syllabification: (re·frain)
Pronunciation: /riˈfrān/
Translate refrain | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of refrain

noun

  • a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse.
  • the musical accompaniment for a refrain.
  • a comment or complaint that is often repeated:“Poor Tom” had become the constant refrain of his friends

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, from refraindre 'break', based on Latin refringere 'break up' (because the refrain “broke” the sequence)

refrain in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of refrain in the British & World English dictionary
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