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restrain

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To restrain is defined as to hold back or keep under control.

(verb)

An example of restrain is someone being put in handcuffs.

See restrain in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to hold back from action; check; suppress; curb
to keep under control
to deprive of physical liberty, as by shackling, arresting, etc.
to limit; restrict

Origin: ME restreinen < OFr restreindre < L restringere < re-, back + stringere, to draw tight: see strict

Related Forms:

restrainable adjective
restrainedly adverb

See restrain in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb re·strained, re·strain·ing, re·strains

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

Origin:

Origin: Middle English restreinen

Origin: , from Old French restraindre, restreign-

Origin: , from Latin restringere, to bind back; see restrict

Related Forms:

re·strainˈa·ble adjective

re·strainˈed·ly (-strāˈnĭd-lē) adverb

re·strainˈer noun

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