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Repetition vs Refrain - What's the difference?

repetition | refrain |

As nouns the difference between repetition and refrain

is that repetition is the act or an instance of repeating or being repeated while refrain is the chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.

As verbs the difference between repetition and refrain

is that repetition is to petition again while refrain is to hold back, to restrain (someone or something).

repetition

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) repetitionem'' (accusative singular of ''repetitio ).

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act or an instance of repeating or being repeated.
  • *
  • *:Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations. It is easily earned repetition to state that Josephine St. Auban's was a presence not to be concealed.
  • (lb): The act of performing a single, controlled exercise motion; also called a rep'. A group of ' repetitions is a set.
  • Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To petition again.
  • * 2011 , Anneke Campbell, ?Thomas Lizney, Be the Change (page 7)
  • The group went through several rounds at different courts, petitioning and repetitioning , losing again and again.

    Anagrams

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    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

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    Anagrams

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