Word Study
rein
CIDE DICTIONARY
rein, n. [F. r, fr. (assumed) LL. retina, fr. L. retinere to hold back. See Retain.].
- The strap of a bridle, fastened to the curb or snaffle on each side, by which the rider or driver governs the horse. [1913 Webster]"This knight laid hold upon his reyne." [1913 Webster]
- Hence, an instrument or means of curbing, restraining, or governing; government; restraint. Milton. [1913 Webster]
rein, v. t.
- To govern or direct with the reins; as, to rein a horse one way or another. [1913 Webster]"He mounts and reins his horse." [1913 Webster]
- To restrain; to control; to check. [1913 Webster]"Being once chafed, he can not
Be reined again to temperance." [1913 Webster]
rein, v. i.
To be guided by reins. Shak. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
rein, n. & v.
--n. (in sing. or pl.)
1 a long narrow strap with each end attached to the bit, used to guide or check a horse etc. in riding or driving.
2 a similar device used to restrain a young child.
3 a means of control.
--v.tr.
1 check or manage with reins.
2 (foll. by up, back) pull up or back with reins.
3 (foll. by in) hold in as with reins; restrain.
4 govern, restrain, control.
--n. (in sing. or pl.)
1 a long narrow strap with each end attached to the bit, used to guide or check a horse etc. in riding or driving.
2 a similar device used to restrain a young child.
3 a means of control.
--v.tr.
1 check or manage with reins.
2 (foll. by up, back) pull up or back with reins.
3 (foll. by in) hold in as with reins; restrain.
4 govern, restrain, control.
Idiom
draw rein
1 stop one's horse.
2 pull up.
3 abandon an effort. give free rein to remove constraints from; allow full scope to. keep a tight rein on allow little freedom to.
1 stop one's horse.
2 pull up.
3 abandon an effort. give free rein to remove constraints from; allow full scope to. keep a tight rein on allow little freedom to.
Derivative
reinless adj.
Etymology
ME f. OF rene, reigne, earlier resne, ult. f. L retinere RETAIN
THESAURUS
rein
administration, arrest, arrestation, backpedal, backwater, brake, bridle, check, clip the wings, collect, command, constrain, constraint, contain, control, cool, cool off, cooling, cooling down, cooling off, curb, curtail, curtailment, decelerate, deceleration, delay, detain, dompt, draw rein, ease off, ease up, enjoin, govern, guard, harness, helm, hinder, hindrance, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in, hold in check, hold in leash, hold up, impede, inhibit, inhibition, injunction, interdict, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep under control, lay under restraint, leadership, legal restraint, let down, let up, limit, limitation, lose ground, lose momentum, lose speed, moderate, monopoly, obstruct, power, prohibit, prohibition, protection, protectionism, protective tariff, pull, pull in, rationing, reef, rein in, reins, relax, repress, restrain, restraint, restraint of trade, restrict, retard, retardation, retrench, retrenchment, rule, running, self-control, set back, simmer down, slack off, slack up, slacken, slow, slow down, slow up, slowing down, smother, snub, stay, straiten, suppress, take in sail, tariff wall, thought control, throttle down, tiller, withholdROGET THESAURUS
rein
Connection
N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.Prison
N prison, prison house, jail, gaol, cage, coop, den, cell, stronghold, fortress, keep, donjon, dungeon, Bastille, oubliette, bridewell, house of correction, hulks, tollbooth, panopticon, penitentiary, guardroom, lockup, hold, round house, watch house, station house, sponging house, station, house of detention, black hole, pen, fold, pound, inclosure, isolation (exclusion), penal settlement, penal colony, bilboes, stocks, limbo, quod, calaboose, chauki, choky, thana, workhouse, Newgate, Fleet, Marshalsea, King's Bench, Queen's Bench, bond, bandage, irons, pinion, gyve, fetter, shackle, trammel, manacle, handcuff, straight jacket, strait jacket, strait-jacket, strait-waistcoat, hopples, vice, vise, yoke, collar, halter, harness, muzzle, gag, bit, brake, curb, snaffle, bridle, rein, reins, bearing rein, martingale, leading string, tether, picket, band, guy, chain, cord, cavesson, hackamore, headstall, jaquima, lines, ribbons, bolt, deadbolt, bar, lock, police lock, combination lock, padlock, rail, wall, stone wall, paling, palisade, fence, picket fence, barbed wire fence, Cyclone fence, stockade fence, chain-link fence, barrier, barricade, drag.For further exploring for "rein" in Webster Dictionary Online
