CONSTRAINED

constrained, forced, strained

(adjective) lacking spontaneity; not natural; ā€œa constrained smileā€; ā€œforced heartinessā€; ā€œa strained smileā€

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Verb

constrained

simple past tense and past participle of constrain

Adjective

constrained (comparative more constrained, superlative most constrained)

Kept within close bounds; confined.

Forced; compelled.

Source: Wiktionary


Con*strained", a.

Definition: Marked by constraint; not free; not voluntary; embarrassed; as, a constrained manner; a constrained tone.

CONSTRAIN

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



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Word of the Day

18 April 2025

GROIN

(noun) the crease at the junction of the inner part of the thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region and often including the external genitals


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

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