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Meaning of CONSTRAIN

Pronunciation:  kun'streyn

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [v]  restrict; "Tighten the rules"; "stiffen the regulations"
  2. [v]  hold back
 
 Websites: 
 
 Synonyms: cumber, encumber, restrain, stiffen, tighten, tighten up
 
 See Also: bound, bound, bridle, clog, confine, confine, curb, limit, limit, restrain, restrict, restrict, throttle, throttle, trammel, trammel

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
\Con*strain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Constrained}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Constraining}.] [OF. constraindre, F.
contrainde, L. constringere; con- + stringere to draw tight.
See {Strain}, and. cf. {Constrict}, {Constringe}.]
1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or confine; to hold
   tightly; to constringe.
         He binds in chains The drowsy prophet, and his limbs
         constrains.                           --Dryden.
         When winter frosts constrain the fields with cold.
                                               --Dryden.
2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress.
         How the strait stays the slender waist constrain.
                                               --Gay.
3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress.
         My sire in caves constrains the winds. --Dryden.
4. To compel; to force; to necessitate; to oblige.
         The love of Christ constraineth us.   --2. Cor. v.
                                               14.
         I was constrained to appeal unto C[ae]sar. --Acts
                                               xxviii. 19.
5. To violate; to ravish. [Obs.] --Shak.
6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural
   effect; as, a constrained voice.
Syn: To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press.
 
Thesaurus Terms
 
 Related Terms: abate, abridge, abstain, aggrieve, allay, alleviate, arrest, assuage, attemper, ban, bank the fire, bar, bastille, bear, bind, bit, blunt, bottle up, box up, bridle, cage, cause, cause to, chasten, check, cloister, coerce, compel, concuss, confine, contain, control, cool, cool off, coop, coop in, coop up, cork up, crib, crowd, crush, curb, curtail, damp, dampen, deaden, decelerate, de-emphasize, deprive, detain, dictate, diminish, disallow, dompt, downplay, drive, dull, encage, enclose, enforce, enjoin, extenuate, fence in, force, govern, grieve, guard, have, hem in, hinder, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold down, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in custody, hold in leash, hold in restraint, hold up, hurt, immure, impel, impound, incarcerate, inhibit, injure, insist upon, intern, jail, jam, jug, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep in custody, keep in detention, keep under control, keep within bounds, lay, lay under restraint, lenify, lessen, lighten, make, mew, mew up, mitigate, moderate, modulate, necessitate, oblige, obtund, pain, palliate, pen, pen up, play down, pound, prison, prohibit, pull, pull in, push, quod, rail in, reduce, reduce the temperature, refrain, rein, rein in, restrain, restrict, retard, retrench, seal up, set back, shackle, shotgun, shut in, shut up, slacken, slow down, smother, snub, sober, sober down, soften, squab, squash, squeeze, squish, stifle, straiten, subdue, suppress, tame, temper, tie, tone down, tune down, underplay, use force upon, wall in, weaken, withhold
 

 

 

 

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