Where does “refrain” come from?
Refrain comes from French refrain, composed of the Latin prefix re- and a root derived from Proto-Indo-European bʰreg-.
refrain (English): To hold back, to restrain; To show restraint; to...
Definitions
- To hold back, to restrain; To show restraint; to...
Ancestry of “refrain”, step by step
refrain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French refrain
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | refrain | refrain, chorus |
| 2 | Old French | refraindre | to hold back, to restrain; to restrain oneself,... |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | refrangere | — |
| 4 | Latin | refringere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 5 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 6 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 7 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |