restrain - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

re-strain

Audio Help [ree-streyn] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)

to strain again.

[Origin: 1870–75; re- + strain¹

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
restrain

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

re·strain

Audio Help [ri-streyn] Pronunciation Key

–verb (used with object)

1.	to hold back from action; keep in check or under control; repress: to restrain one's temper.

2.	to deprive of liberty, as by arrest or the like.

3.	to limit or hamper the activity, growth, or effect of: to restrain trade with Cuba.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME restreynen < MF restreindre < L restringere to bind back, bind fast, equiv. to re- re- + stringere to draw together; see strain¹

]

—Related forms

re·strain·a·ble, adjective

re·strain·a·bil·i·ty, noun

re·strain·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. bridle, suppress, constrain. See check. 2. restrict, circumscribe, confine, hinder, hamper.

—Antonyms 1. unbridle. 2. free, liberate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

re·strain Audio Help (rĭ-strān') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. re·strained, re·strain·ing, re·strains

1. To hold back or keep in check; control: couldn't restrain the tears.
2. To hold (a person) back; prevent: restrained them from going.
To deprive of freedom or liberty.
To limit or restrict.

[Middle English restreinen, from Old French restraindre, restreign-, from Latin restringere, to bind back; see restrict.]

re·strain'a·ble adj., re·strain'ed·ly (-strā'nĭd-lē) adv., re·strain'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to hold back or keep under control. Restrain implies restriction or limitation, as on one's freedom of action: "a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another" (Thomas Jefferson).
To curb is to restrain as if with reins: "You might curb your magnanimity" (John Keats).
Check implies arresting or stopping, often suddenly or forcibly: "a light to guide, a rod/To check the erring" (William Wordsworth).
To bridle is often to hold in or govern one's emotions or passions: I tried with all my might to bridle my resentment.
Inhibit usually connotes a check on one's actions, thoughts, or emotions: A fear of strangers inhibited his ability to travel.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
restrain

c.1340, from stem of O.Fr. restraindre, from L. restringere "draw back tightly, confine, check" (see restriction). Restraint "action of restraining" is recorded from c.1400, from O.Fr. restrainte, prop. fem. pp. of restraindre. Meaning "means of restraint" is recorded from 1421.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

restrain
verb
1.	keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"
2.	place limits on (extent or access); "restrict the use of this parking lot"; "limit the time you can spend with your friends" [syn: restrict]
3.	to close within bounds, limit or hold back from 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"
4.	hold back
5.	to compel or deter by or as if by threats [syn: intimidate]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
restrain [rəˈstrein] verb

to prevent from doing something; to control
Example: He was so angry he could hardly restrain himself; He had to be restrained from hitting the man; He restrained his anger with difficulty.

Arabic:	يَكْظُم، يَكْبَح، يَمْنَع
Chinese (Simplified):	抑制
Chinese (Traditional):	抑制
Czech:	ovládat (se), krotit
Danish:	beherske sig; holde tilbage
Dutch:	bedwingen
Estonian:	tagasi hoidma, ohjeldama
Finnish:	hillitä
French:	(se) contenir, *retenir
German:	zurückhalten
Greek:	συγκρατώ, ελέγχω
Hungarian:	visszatart
Icelandic:	halda aftur af
Indonesian:	mencegah, mengendalikan
Italian:	contenere, frenare

Japanese:	抑える
Korean:	…을 억누르다, 억제하다
Latvian:	apvaldīt
Lithuanian:	sulaikyti
Norwegian:	holde tilbake, beherske (seg)
Polish:	powstrzymać
Portuguese (Brazil):	conter
Portuguese (Portugal):	conter
Romanian:	a (se) stăpâni; a împiedica
Russian:	сдерживать(ся)
Slovak:	ovládať sa
Slovenian:	zadržati (se), obvladati (se)
Spanish:	refrenar(se), contenerse
Swedish:	lägga band på, hindra, tygla
Turkish:	engellemek, mâni olmak

See also: restrained

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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. 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! --Shak.

2. To draw back toghtly, as a rein. [Obs.] --Shak.

3. To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge.

Though they two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty. --Clarendon.

4. To limit; to confine; to restrict. --Trench.

Not only a metaphysical or natural, but a moral, universality also is to be restrained by a part of the predicate. --I. Watts.

5. To withhold; to forbear.

Thou restrained prayer before God. --Job. xv. 4.

Syn: To check; hinder; stop; withhold; repress; curb; suppress; coerce; restrict; limit; confine.

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