Restrain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Restrained; p. pr. & vb. n. Restraining.]
Etymology: [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. To draw back again; to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force, or by any interposing obstacle; to repress or suppress; to keep down; to curb. Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature Gives way to in repose! Shak.
2. To draw back toghtly, as a rein. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To hinder from unlimited enjoiment; to abridge. Though they two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty. Clarendon.
4. To limit; to confine; to restrict. Trench. Not only a metaphysical or natural, but a moral, universality also is to be restrained by a part of the predicate. I. Watts.
2 more senses
5. To withhold; to forbear. Thou restrained prayer before God. Job. xv. 4.
Syn. -- To check; hinder; stop; withhold; repress; curb; suppress; coerce; restrict; limit; confine.
Shades of meaning
To restrain is to hold back from acting, proceeding, or advancing, either by physical or moral force. Constrain is positive; restrain is negative; one is constrained to an action; he is restrained from an action. Constrain refers almost exclusively to moral force, restrain frequently to physical force, as when we speak of putting one under restraint. To restrain an action is to hold it partially or wholly in check, so that it is under pressure even while it acts; to restrict an action is to fix a limit or boundary which it may not pass, but within which it is free. To repress, literally to press back, is to hold in check, and perhaps only temporarily, that which is still very active; it is a feebler word than restrain; to suppress is finally and effectually to put down; suppress is a much stronger word than restrain; as, to suppress a rebellion. Compare arrest; bind; keep.