different between refrain vs ostinato

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)

1. (transitive, archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something). [from 14th c.]
2. (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! […] "

3. (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.

4. (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
5. (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)

1. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
2. (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)

1. 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)

1. refrain

   Synonym: ritornello

Anagrams

• rifarne

Further reading

• refrain in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

English

Etymology

From Italian ostinato (“stubborn”). Doublet of obstinate.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?st??n?to?/

Noun

ostinato (plural ostinatos or ostinati)

1. (music) A piece of melody, a chord progression, or a bass figure that is repeated over and over as a musical accompaniment.

Translations

References

Finnish

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian ostinato.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ostin?to/, [?o?s?t?i?n?t?o?]
• Rhymes: -?to
• Syllabification: os?ti?na?to

Noun

ostinato

1. (music) ostinato

Declension

Anagrams

• soitanto, taistoon

Italian

Etymology 1

From Latin obstin?tus.

Adjective

ostinato (feminine ostinata, masculine plural ostinati, feminine plural ostinate)

1. stubborn, obstinate

Related terms

Noun

ostinato m (plural ostinati, feminine ostinata)

1. a stubborn or obstinate person

Etymology 2

Verb

ostinato m (feminine singular ostinata, masculine plural ostinati, feminine plural ostinate)

1. past participle of ostinarsi

Anagrams

• asintoto

Further reading

• ostinato in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana