(to) restrain

  • 1restrain — re·strain /ri strān/ vt 1 a: to prevent from doing something see also restraining order at order 3b b: to limit, restrict, or keep under control 2: to moderate or limit …

    Law dictionary

  • 2restrain — re‧strain [rɪˈstreɪn] verb [transitive] to control or limit something that is starting to increase: • tough rules to restrain the creation of monopolies • A cut in consumer credit would restrain an economic recovery. * * * restrain UK US… …

    Financial and business terms

  • 3restrain — restrain, curb, check, bridle, inhibit are comparable when they mean to hold a person or thing back from doing something or from going too far in doing something. Restrain, the most comprehensive of these terms, may imply the intent either to… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 4restrain — [ri strān′] vt. [ME restreinen < OFr restreindre < L restringere < re , back + stringere, to draw tight: see STRICT] 1. to hold back from action; check; suppress; curb 2. to keep under control 3. to deprive of physical liberty, as by… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Restrain — 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.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6restrain by injunction — index enjoin Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 7restrain motion — index fetter Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 8restrain movement — index fetter Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 9restrain — (v.) mid 14c., from stem of O.Fr. restraindre, from L. restringere draw back tightly, confine, check (see RESTRICTION (Cf. restriction)). Related: Restrained; restraining …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 10restrain — [v] keep under control; hold back arrest, bind, bottle up, box up, bridle, chain, check, choke back, circumscribe, confine, constrain, contain, control, cool*, cork*, crack down*, curb, curtail, debar, delimit, detain, deter, direct, fetter, gag …

    New thesaurus