Restrict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Restricted; p. pr. & vb. n. Restricting.]
To restrain within bounds; to limit; to confine; as, to restrict worlds to a particular meaning; to restrict a patient to a certain diet.
Syn. -- To limit; bound; circumscribe; restrain; repress; curb; coerce.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Restrict, a.
Restricted. [Obs.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for restrict; he lists it under bind, restrain.
Where he writes about it:
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. — from restrain