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Refrain vs Relinquish - What's the difference?

refrain | relinquish |

As verbs the difference between refrain and relinquish

is that refrain is to hold back, to restrain (someone or something) while relinquish is to give up, abandon or retire from something.

As a noun refrain

is the chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.

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

    * ----

    relinquish

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To give up, abandon or retire from something.
    • to relinquish a title
    to relinquish property
    to relinquish rights
    to relinquish citizenship or nationality
  • To let go (free, away), physically release.
  • To metaphorically surrender, yield control or possession.
  • * 2011 , Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15210221.stm]
    • But it was the most fleeting of false dawns. Dmitri Yachvilli slotted a penalty from distance after Flood failed to release his man on the deck, and France took a grip they would never relinquish .
  • To accept to give up, withdraw etc.
    • ''The delegations saved the negotiations by relinquishing their incompatible claims to sole jurisdiction

    Derived terms

    * (l)

    Related terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    External links

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