I. To hold in with a bridle, to check, curb: “equos,” Curt. 4, 16, 3.—
II. In gen., to bridle, check, curb, restrain, hold back.
A. Lit.: “fluvios,” Lucr. 6, 531; cf. “aquas,” Ov. H. 6, 87: “materiem per membra,” Lucr. 2, 276; cf.: “copiam materiaï,” id. 2, 283.—
B. Trop. (class.): “religione refrenari,” Lucr. 5, 114: “blanda refrenat morsus voluptas,” id. 4, 1085: “adulescentes a gloriā,” Cic. Cael. 31, 76; cf.: “a reditu refrenavit,” id. Phil. 11, 2, 4: “juventutem,” id. Div. 2, 2, 4: “libidines,” id. Par. 5, 1, 33: “libidinem,” id. Agr. 2, 20, 55: “indomitam audeat Refrenare licentiam,” Hor. C. 3, 24, 29: “animum conscientiă sceleris avaritiaeque suae,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 57, § 130: “omnium opibus refrenare ac coërcere,” id. Div. 2, 2, 4: “cursum dicendi,” Quint. 8, prooem. § 27: “ neque hac re severitas Papirii refrenari potest,” Val. Max. 2, 7, 8: “linguam,” Vulg. Jacob. 1, 26.