9 uses
- For never yet, I say, have I wronged a maiden in thy halls by froward word or deed, nay I bade the other wooers refrain, whoso of them wrought thus.Book 22 (64% in)
- With good will he made harangue and spake among them: 'Alcinous, this truly is not the more seemly way, nor is it fitting that the stranger should sit upon the ground in the ashes by the hearth, while these men refrain them, waiting thy word.Book 7 (47% in)
- And as often as they drank that red wine honey sweet, he would fill one cup and pour it into twenty measures of water, and a marvellous sweet smell went up from the mixing bowl: then truly it was no pleasure to refrain.Book 9 (36% in)
- 'So I spake, and straightway they swore to refrain as I commanded them.Book 12 (66% in)
- 'Now so long as my company still had corn and red wine, they refrained them from the kine, for they were fain of life.Book 12 (72% in)
- But if the gods are disposed to avert it, I bid you to refrain.'Book 16 (84% in)
- Yet he hardened his heart to endure and refrained himself.Book 17 (38% in)
- But, ye wooers, refrain your minds from rebukes and your hands from buffets, that no strife and feud may arise.'Book 20 (67% in)
- Then grey-eyed Athene spake to Odysseus, saying: 'Son of Laertes, of the seed of Zeus, Odysseus of many devices, refrain thee now and stay the strife of even-handed war, lest perchance the son of Cronos be angry with thee, even Zeus of the far-borne voice.'Book 24 (97% in)
There are no more uses of "refrain" in The Odyssey by Homer (translated by: Butcher & Lang).
Typical Usage
(best examples)