---
title: refrain — Early Modern English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «refrain» in the Early Modern English dictionary: To stop yourself from doing something; to hold back; in old usage also used with "himself". Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# refrain

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** he, verse, Joseph, them, man · **What happens:** stop, do, hold back, use, wash, come out · **To what, where:** yourself, something, old usage, face, himself, bread · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«refrain» in the Early Modern English dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 3 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [refrain in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/refrain.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stop yourself from doing something; to hold back; in old usage also used with "himself".

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:refrain:m1:1
# text = To stop yourself from doing something; to hold back; in old usage also used with "himself".
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
3	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	hold	hold	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	back	back	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	usage	usage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
15	also	also	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	parataxis	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	16	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | to-infinitive |  | yourself |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality yourself=Eventuality |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **hold back** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | old usage |  | with himself *= he* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said: 'Set on bread.'

<!-- .note -->
From Torah GEN.43.31, JPS 1917.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:refrain:x1:1
# text = And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said: 'Set on bread.'
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	washed	wash	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	advcl	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	face	face	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	out	out	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	refrained	refrain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
14	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
17	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
19	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	Set	set	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	17	ccomp	_	_
21	on	on	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
22	bread	bread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wash** | past | he | his face |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent face=Patient |
| 2 | **come out** | past | he *not said here* |  |  |  |  | out *property* | vn become-109.1 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **refrain** | past | he | himself *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 5 | **set** | participle |  |  |  | bread |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on bread=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every verse ended with this refrain,--

<!-- .note -->
From Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:refrain:x2:1
# text = Every verse ended with this refrain,--
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	verse	verse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	det	_	_
6	refrain	refrain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | every verse |  |  |  |  | with this refrain | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality PP.subeventuality»: agent=Affector with refrain=Subeventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: 'Cause every man to go out from me.' And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

<!-- .note -->
From Torah GEN.45.1, JPS 1917.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: 'Cause every man to go out from me.'

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:refrain:x3:1
# text = Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: 'Cause every man to go out from me.'
1	Then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	5	advmod	_	_
2	Joseph	Joseph	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	refrain	refrain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obj	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	obl	_	_
9	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
17	cried	cry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
19	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	Cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
21	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	22	det	_	_
22	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	obj	_	_
23	to	to	PART	TO	_	24	mark	_	_
24	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	20	xcomp	_	_
25	out	out	ADV	RB	_	24	advmod	_	_
26	from	from	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	24	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	'	'	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **refrain** | could | Joseph | Joseph |  |  | before all; then |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **stand** | past | them *= they* |  |  |  |  | by Joseph | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent by he=Location |
| 3 | **cry** *speech: express* | past | Joseph |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **cause** | infinitive | Joseph *not said here* | every man |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **go out** | to-infinitive | every man *not said here* |  |  |  |  | from me; out *property* | vn interact-36.6 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:emode:refrain:x3:2
# text = And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
1	And	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
2	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	3	expl	_	_
3	stood	stand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	5	det	_	_
5	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
10	Joseph	Joseph	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	11	obj	_	_
13	known	know	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	xcomp	_	_
14	unto	unto	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	brethren	brethren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stand** | past |  | no man |  | there |  | with man | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer man=Stimulus |
| 2 | **make** | past | Joseph | Joseph |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **know** | participle | Joseph *not said here* |  |  |  |  | unto Joseph's brethren | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

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**Text:** the Early Modern English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova; its examples quote public-domain texts. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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