Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RE-FRAIN, v.t. [Fr. refrener; It. rinfrenare; L. refræno; re and fræno; to curb; frænum, a rein. See Rein.]

To hold back; to restrain; to keep from action. My son … refrain thy foot from their path. – Prov. i. Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by. – Gen. xiv.