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Continence vs Refrain - What's the difference?

continence | refrain |

As nouns the difference between continence and refrain

is that continence is the voluntary control of urination and defecation while refrain is .

continence

English

Noun

(-)
  • The voluntary control of urination and defecation.
  • Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence.
  • * (seeCites)
  • * Dryden
    • He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, — a continence which is practiced by few writers.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • Chastity is either abstinence or continence': abstinence is that of virgins or widows; ' continence , that of married persons.
  • Uninterrupted course; continuity.
    • (Ayliffe)

    Antonyms

    * incontinence

    Related terms

    * continent

    References

    *

    refrain

    English

    Etymology 1

    From a combination of (etyl) refraindre, (etyl) refreindre (from (etyl) refrangere), and (etyl) refrener, (etyl) refrener (from (etyl) refrenare).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
  • * Proverbs i:15 .
    • Refrain thy foot from their path.
  • (reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts V:
    • And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].
  • *
    • his reson aperceyueth it wel that it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson / refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent.
  • * Bible, Proverbs i. 15
    • Refrain thy foot from their path.
  • To stop oneself (from) some action or interference; to abstain.
  • * Bible, Acts v. 38
    • Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
    • They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
  • *
    • Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) refrain, from the (etyl) verb . See refract and the verb refrain.

    Noun

    (wikipedia refrain) (en noun)
  • The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
    • We hear the wild refrain . Whittier.
  • A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.

    • References

    *

    Anagrams

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