refraining Definition

refrain²
verb

intr
refrained, refraining
1. To keep oneself from acting in some way or doing something; to avoid it.

Thesaurus: abstain, forbear, eschew, avoid, renounce, cease, desist, stop, quit, swear off.
Form: refrain from something (usually)

Etymology: 14c: from French refréner, from Latin refrenare to check with a bridle, from frenum a bridle.