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   Re·strain

   /rəˈstrān/

   

   verb

   • 1. prevent (someone or something) from doing something; keep under control or within limits: "he had to be restrained from walking out of the meeting" Similar preventstopkeephold backhinderimpedehamperrestrictconstrainobstructarchaic:holdprohibitbanbardisallowinterdictforbidvetoproscribeenjoinOpposite forcecompelencourage
   • ▪ prevent oneself from displaying or giving way to (a strong urge or emotion): "Amos had to restrain his impatience" Similar controlkeep under controlcheckhold/keep in checkcurbsuppressrepresscontainkeep within boundslimitregulaterestrictmoderatedampenput a brake onsubduesmotherchoke backstiflebridleleashbitmuzzlebottle upcorkrein backrein inkeep ininformal:keep the lid onOpposite provokeencourage
   • ▪ deprive (someone) of freedom of movement or personal liberty: "leg cuffs are used in the U.S. for restraining and transporting extremely violent and dangerous criminals" Similar tie upbindstraptrusspinionlashtetherchain (up)fettershacklemanacleput in ironshandcuff
   • ▪ (of a seat belt) hold (a person or part of their body) down and back while in a vehicle seat: "all front seats must be equipped with seat belts which restrain the upper part of the body"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French restreign-, stem of restreindre, from Latin restringere, from re- ‘back’ + stringere ‘to tie, pull tight’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. restrainable adjective
   • 2. restrainer noun

   Scrabble Points: 8

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   • R

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   • A

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