- restrain
- restrain (v.) mid-14c., from stem of O.Fr. restraindre, from L. restringere "draw back tightly, confine, check" (see RESTRICTION (Cf. restriction)). Related: Restrained; restraining.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
restrain
Look at other dictionaries:
restrain — re·strain /ri strān/ vt 1 a: to prevent from doing something see also restraining order at order 3b b: to limit, restrict, or keep under control 2: to moderate or limit … Law dictionary
restrain — re‧strain [rɪˈstreɪn] verb [transitive] to control or limit something that is starting to increase: • tough rules to restrain the creation of monopolies • A cut in consumer credit would restrain an economic recovery. * * * restrain UK US… … Financial and business terms
restrain — restrain, curb, check, bridle, inhibit are comparable when they mean to hold a person or thing back from doing something or from going too far in doing something. Restrain, the most comprehensive of these terms, may imply the intent either to… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
restrain — [ri strān′] vt. [ME restreinen < OFr restreindre < L restringere < re , back + stringere, to draw tight: see STRICT] 1. to hold back from action; check; suppress; curb 2. to keep under control 3. to deprive of physical liberty, as by… … English World dictionary
Restrain — Re*strain , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Restrained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Restraining}.] [OE. restreinen, F. restreindre, fr. L. restringere, restrictum; pref. re re + stringere to draw, bind, or press together. See {Strain}, v. t., and cf. {Restrict}.] 1.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
restrain — [v] keep under control; hold back arrest, bind, bottle up, box up, bridle, chain, check, choke back, circumscribe, confine, constrain, contain, control, cool*, cork*, crack down*, curb, curtail, debar, delimit, detain, deter, direct, fetter, gag … New thesaurus
restrain — ► VERB 1) keep under control or within limits. 2) deprive of freedom of movement or personal liberty. 3) repress (a strong emotion). DERIVATIVES restrainable adjective restrainer noun. ORIGIN Latin restringere tie back … English terms dictionary
restrain — [[t]rɪstre͟ɪn[/t]] restrains, restraining, restrained 1) VERB If you restrain someone, you stop them from doing what they intended or wanted to do, usually by using your physical strength. [V n] Wally gripped my arm, partly to restrain me and… … English dictionary
restrain — verb ADVERB ▪ barely ▪ I barely restrained myself from hitting him. ▪ properly ▪ The horse must be properly restrained in a location where it would not hurt itself. ▪ forcibly … Collocations dictionary
restrain — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English restraynen, from Anglo French restreindre, from Latin restringere to restrain, restrict, from re + stringere to bind tight more at strain Date: 14th century 1. a. to prevent from doing, exhibiting, or… … New Collegiate Dictionary
