CONSTRAIN
stiffen, tighten, tighten up, constrain
(verb) severely restrict in scope or extent; “tighten the rules”; “stiffen the regulations”
restrain, confine, hold, constrain
(verb) to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement; “This holds the local until the express passengers change trains”; “About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade”; “The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center”; “The terrorists held the journalists for ransom”
enforce, impose, constrain
(verb) compel to behave in a certain way; “Social relations impose courtesy”; “duty constrains one to act often contrary to one’s desires or inclinations”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
constrain (third-person singular simple present constrains, present participle constraining, simple past and past participle constrained)
(transitive) To force physically, by strong persuasion or pressuring; to compel; to oblige.
(transitive) To keep within close bounds; to confine.
(transitive) To reduce a result in response to limited resources.
Anagrams
• consarn it, consarnit, introscan, non-racist, nonracist, transonic
Source: Wiktionary
Con*strain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constrained; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constraining.] Etym: [OF. constraindre, F. contrainde, L.
constringere; con- + stringere to draw tight. See Strain, and. cf.
Constrict, Conbstringere.]
1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or con
He binds in hains The droway prophet, and his limbs constrains.
Dryden.
When winter frosts constrain the fields with old. Dryden.
2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress.
How the strait stays the slender waist constrain. Gay.
3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress.
My sire in caves constrains the winds. Dryden.
4. To compel; to force; to necessiate; to oblige.
The love of Christ constraineth us. 2. Cor. v. 14.
I was constrained to appeal unto CActs xxviii. 19.
5. To violate; to ravish. [Obs.] Shak.
6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effet; as, a
constrained voice.
Syn.
– To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition