Restrain

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: re=strain

CIDE DICTIONARY

Restrain, v. t. [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.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
  Gives way to in repose!"  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw back toghtly, as a rein.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge.  [1913 Webster]

  "Though they two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty."  [1913 Webster]
•  To limit; to confine; to restrict.  Trench.  [1913 Webster]

  "Not only a metaphysical or natural, but a moral, universality also is to be restrained by a part of the predicate."  [1913 Webster]
•  To withhold; to forbear.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou restrained prayer before God."  [1913 Webster]

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

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Restrain, v.tr.
1 (often refl., usu. foll. by from) check or hold in; keep in check or under control or within bounds.
2 repress; keep down.
3 confine; imprison.

Derivative

restrainable adj. restrainer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF restrei(g)n- stem of restreindre f. L restringere restrict- (as RE-, stringere tie)

THESAURUS

Restrain

abate, adjust to, allay, alleviate, alter, anchor, arrest, assuage, attemper, bank the fire, bar, bind, bit, block, blunt, bottle up, bound, box in, box up, bridle, cage, cause, cause to, chain, chasten, check, circumscribe, cloister, coarct, collect, compel, condition, confine, constrain, contain, control, cool, cool off, coop, coop in, coop up, copyright, cork up, countercheck, crib, crimp, curb, curtail, dam up, damp, dampen, de-emphasize, deaden, debar, decelerate, delay, detain, diminish, discipline, dompt, downplay, draw the line, drive, dull, encage, enchain, enclose, enforce, enjoin, entrammel, extenuate, fasten, fence in, fetter, forbear, force, gag, govern, guard, gyve, hamper, handcuff, handicap, have, hedge, hedge about, hem in, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, 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, hopple, immure, impede, impel, impound, imprison, incarcerate, inhibit, intercept, interfere, interfere with, intermeddle, interrupt, intervene, keep, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep in custody, keep in detention, keep under control, keep within bounds, lash, lay, lay under restraint, leash, leaven, lenify, lessen, lighten, limit, lock up, make, make fast, manacle, meddle, mew, mew up, mitigate, moderate, modify, modulate, moor, muzzle, narrow, obstruct, obtund, oppose, palliate, patent, peg down, pen, pen up, picket, pin down, pinion, play down, pound, prevent, prohibit, pull, pull in, purify, put in irons, qualify, rail in, reduce, reduce the temperature, refrain, register, regulate, regulate by, rein, rein in, repress, resist, restrict, retard, retrench, rope, scant, scotch, seal up, season, secure, set back, set conditions, set limits, shackle, shut in, shut up, simmer down, simplify, slacken, slow down, smother, snub, sober, sober down, soften, specialize, stifle, stint, stop, straiten, straitjacket, strap, subdue, suppress, tame, temper, tether, tie, tie down, tie up, tone down, trammel, tune down, underplay, use force upon, wall in, weaken, withhold

ROGET THESAURUS

Restrain

Compulsion

VB compel, force, make, drive, coerce, constrain, enforce, necessitate, oblige, force upon, press, cram down the throat, thrust down the throat, force down the throat, say it must be done, make a point of, insist upon, take no denial, put down, dragoon, extort, wring from, squeeze, put on the squeeze, put on the screws, turn on the screw, drag into, bind, bind over, pin down, tie down, require, tax, put in force, commandeer, restrain.

Restraint

VB restrain, check, put under restraint, lay under restraint, enthral, enthrall, inthral, inthrall, bethral, bethrall, restrict, debar, constrain, coerce, curb, control, hold back, hold from, hold in, hold in check, hold within bounds, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep within bounds, hold in leash, hold in leading strings, withhold, keep under, repress, suppress, smother, pull in, rein in, hold, hold fast, keep a tight hand on, prohibit, inhibit, cohibit, enchain, fasten, fetter, shackle, entrammel, bridle, muzzle, hopple, gag, pinion, manacle, handcuff, tie one's hands, hobble, bind hand and foot, swathe, swaddle, pin down, tether, picket, tie down, tie up, secure, forge fetters, disable, hamstring (incapacitate), confine, shut up, shut in, clap up, lock up, box up, mew up, bottle up, cork up, seal up, button up, hem in, bolt in, wall in, rail in, impound, pen, coop, inclose, cage, incage, encage, close the door upon, cloister, imprison, immure, incarcerate, entomb, clap under hatches, lay under hatches, put in irons, put in a strait-waistcoat, throw into prison, cast into prison, put into bilboes, arrest, take up, take charge of, take into custody, take prisoner, take captive, make prisoner, make captive, captivate, lead captive, lead into captivity, send to prison, commit to prison, commit, give in charge, give in custody, subjugate.

Prohibition

VB prohibit, inhibit, forbid, put one's veto upon, disallow, enjoin, ban, outlaw, taboo, proscribe, estop, bar, debar, forefend, keep in, keep within bounds, restrain, cohibit, withhold, limit, circumscribe, clip the wings of, restrict, interdict, taboo, put under an interdiction, place under an interdiction, put under the ban, place under the ban, proscribe, exclude, shut out, shut the door, bolt the door, show the door, warn off, dash the cup from one's lips, forbid the banns.

Contraction

VB become small, become smaller, lessen, decrease, grow less, dwindle, shrink, contract, narrow, shrivel, collapse, wither, lose flesh, wizen, fall away, waste, wane, ebb, decay, be smaller than, fall short of, not come up to, render smaller, lessen, diminish, contract, draw in, narrow, coarctate, boil down, constrict, constringe, condense, compress, squeeze, corrugate, crimp, crunch, crush, crumple up, warp, purse up, pack, squeeze, stow, pinch, tighten, strangle, cramp, dwarf, bedwarf, shorten, circumscribe, restrain, (subtraction) 38 abrade, pare, reduce, attenuate, rub down, scrape, file, file down, grind, grind down, chip, shave, shear, wear down.