verb

restrain

to restrain, to hold back, to control, to restrict

Please restrain your dog.

Please restrain your dog.

She had to restrain herself from shouting.

She had to restrain herself from shouting.

He was restrained by two officers.

He was restrained by two officers.

((sb./sth.)) to keep (sb./sth.) under control Please restrain your dog.

((sb.)) from -ing to prevent (sb.) from doing (sth.) She had to restrain herself from shouting.

Synonyms: control, hold back, suppress; Antonyms: release, free, encourage

From Latin 'restringere', meaning 'to tie back', from 're-' (back) + 'stringere' (to draw tight).

Think of putting a 'strain' on something again ('re-') to hold it back, like pulling on reins.

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