One day an unknown youth asked Mozart to explain to him how to start to compose a symphony.
- You are young, - answered Mozart. In the beginning write a ballade, and if you like it, come to me.
- But you! At the age of ten you have composed a lot of music.
- But I did not ask anybody how to do it.
v. (of water, air, glass, etc.) Deflect (a ray of light etc.) At a certain angle when it enters obliquely from another medium. refraction n. Refractive adj. [latin refringo -fract- break open]
REFRAIN
v. (foll. By from) avoid doing (an action) (refrain from smoking). [latin frenum bridle]
- n. - recurring phrase or lines, esp. At the ends of stanzas.
- music accompanying this. [latin: related to *refract]
REFRESH
v. - give new spirit or vigour to.
- revive (the memory), esp. By consulting the source of one's information. refreshing adj. Refreshingly adv. [french: related to *fresh]
REFROZE
past of *refreeze.
REFUGEE
n. Person taking refuge, esp. In a foreign country, from war, persecution, or natural disaster. [french refugie: related to *refuge]
REFUSAL
n. - refusing or being refused.
- (in full first refusal) right or privilege of deciding to take or leave a thing before it is offered to others.
REGALIA
n.pl. - insignia of royalty used at coronations.
- insignia of an order or of civic dignity. [medieval latin: related to *regal]
REGATTA
n. Event consisting of rowing or yacht races. [italian]
