Refrained vs Abstain - What's the difference?
refrained | abstain |
(refrain)
(archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
* Proverbs i:15 .
(reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
* 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts V:
*
* Bible, Proverbs i. 15
To stop oneself (from) some action or interference; to abstain.
* Bible, Acts v. 38
* Sir Thomas Browne
*
The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.
(transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.
Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites.
* Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? - Shakespeare, Richard II, II-i
(obsolete) Fast.
Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
* Not a few abstained from voting. -
(obsolete) Hinder; keep back; withhold.
* Whether he abstain men from marying [sic]. -
As verbs the difference between refrained and abstain
is that refrained is past tense of refrain while abstain is keep or withhold oneself.refrained
English
Verb
(head)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)- Refrain thy foot from their path.
- 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.
- Refrain thy foot from their path.
- Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
- 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)- We hear the wild refrain . Whittier.