different between refrain vs leitmotif
refrain
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /???f?e?n/
- Rhymes: -e?n
Etymology 1
From Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-Norman refraindre, Middle French refreindre (from Latin refringere), and Anglo-Norman refrener, Middle French refrener (from Latin refrenare).
Verb
refrain (third-person singular simple present refrains, present participle refraining, simple past and past participle refrained)
- (transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]
- (reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back. [from 14th c.]
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts V:
- And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].
- 1899, Sabine Baring-Gould, A Book of the West Volume 1 Chapter 18
- As I went down the river, all dissatisfaction at my lot passed away, and by the time Dartmouth came in view I could no longer refrain myself, but threw my cap into the air, and barely caught it from falling overboard as I shouted, "Hurrah for merry England! […] "
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts V:
- (transitive, now rare) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb. [from 14th c.]
- 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.
- (intransitive, with preposition "from") To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain. [from 15th c.]
- July 5, 1731, Jonathan Swift, letter to Vanessa
- If you knew how I struggle for a little health, what uneasiness I am at in riding and walking, and refraining from every thing agreeable to my taste
- July 5, 1731, Jonathan Swift, letter to Vanessa
- (transitive, rare, regional) To abstain from (food or drink). [from 16th c.]
Translations
Etymology 2
From French refrain, from the Old French verb refraindre (“to break off, repeat”), from Latin re- (“back, again”) + frang? (“break”); compare Occitan refranhs (“a refrain”), refranher (“to repeat”). See refract and the verb refrain.
Noun
refrain (plural refrains)
- The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
- (by extension) A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.
- Synonym: old saw
Translations
References
- refrain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
Anagrams
- Ren fair, ferrian
French
Etymology
Alteration of Old French refrait, past participle of the verb refraindre (based on the verb's infinitive), itself from Vulgar Latin *refrangere, from Latin refringo, refringere.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /??.f???/
Noun
refrain m (plural refrains)
- refrain, chorus
Descendants
- ? Danish: refræn
- ? English: refrain
- ? German: Refrain
- ? Spanish: refrán
Further reading
- “refrain” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Anagrams
- fariner
Italian
Etymology
From French refrain.
Noun
refrain m (invariable)
- refrain
- Synonym: ritornello
Anagrams
- rifarne
Further reading
- refrain in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
refrain From the web:
- what refrain means
- what refrain is the poet talking about
- what refrain is used in the poem 'childhood'
- what is a refrain music
leitmotif
English
Alternative forms
- leitmotiv, leit-motif
Etymology
From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?la?t.m???ti?f/
- (US) IPA(key): /?la?t.mo??tif/, nonstandard IPA(key): /?le?t.mo??tif/
Noun
leitmotif (plural leitmotifs)
- (music) A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
- (by extension) A recurring theme.
- Synonym: common thread
Translations
leitmotif From the web:
- what leitmotif meaning
- leitmotif what does this mean
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- what is leitmotif in literature
- what does leitmotif mean in english
- what are leitmotifs in the operas by wagner
- what does leitmotif mean in literature
- what does leitmotif represent
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