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Repress vs Refrain - What's the difference?

repress | refrain |

As nouns the difference between repress and refrain

is that repress is the act of repressing while refrain is the chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.

As verbs the difference between repress and refrain

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

repress

English

Noun

(es)
  • The act of repressing.

    • Verb

    (es)
  • To press again.
    • to repress a vinyl record
  • To forcefully prevent an upheaval from developing further.
  • *to repress sedition or rebellion
  • *to repress the first risings of discontent.
  • Hence, to check; to keep back.
  • * Milton
    • Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, / Thou couldst repress .

    Synonyms

    * (forcefully preventing an upheaval from developing) to crush out; to quell; to subdue; to suppress * (to keep back) to restrain; to hold back

    Anagrams

    *

    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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