verb

shackle

to shackle, to fetter, to restrain

The prisoners were shackled together.

The prisoners were shackled together.

He is shackled by his own fears.

He is shackled by his own fears.

((to shackle sb./sth.)) to put shackles on someone or something The guards came to shackle the prisoner.

((to be shackled by sth.)) to be severely limited by something He is shackled by his own fears.

Synonyms: fetter, chain, restrain, impede; Antonyms: release, free, liberate

From Old English 'sceacel' meaning 'a bond, a fetter'.

Imagine a 'shackle' on an ankle, making it hard to 'shake' free. The noun form refers to the physical object.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.