restrain
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (4)restrained, restraining
- to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement“This holds the local until the express passengers change trains”“About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade”“The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center”“The terrorists held the journalists for ransom”Synonyms: confineholdconstrainMore general disable, disenableMore specific tie down, ground, fetter, pinion, enchain, impound, pound, pen up
- restrict (someone or something) so as to make free movement difficultSynonyms: encumbercumberMore general restrict, trammelMore specific clog, curb, bridle
- prevent (someone or something) from doing something“security guards restrained the reporter from throwing another shoe”More general prevent, keep
- prevent the action or expression of“hold back your anger”“keep your cool”“she struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays”Synonyms: keepkeep backhold backMore general act, moveMore specific control, confine, wink, inhibit, rule, swallow, hold, baffle
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. restreinen, F. restreindre, fr. L. restringere, restrictum; pref. re- re- + stringere to draw, bind, or press together. See Strain, transitive verb, and cf. Restrict.
1. To draw back again; to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force, or by any interposing obstacle; to repress or suppress; to keep down; to curb.
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose!— William Shakespeare
2. To draw back toghtly, as a rein. obsolete William Shakespeare
3. To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge.
Though they two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty.— Edward Hyde, first earl of Clarendon
4. To limit; to confine; to restrict. Abp. Richard Chenevix Trench
Not only a metaphysical or natural, but a moral, universality also is to be restrained by a part of the predicate.— Isaac Watts
5. To withhold; to forbear.
Thou restrained prayer before God.— Job. xv. 4.
Synonyms: To check; hinder; stop; withhold; repress; curb; suppress; coerce; restrict; limit; confine.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54