Adjacent Words

Restraint definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RESTRA'INT, n.
1. The act or operation of holding back or hindering from motion, in any manner; hinderance of the will, or of any action, physical, moral or mental.
2. Abridgment of liberty; as the restraint of a man by imprisonment or by duress.
3. Prohibition. The commands of God should be effectual restraints upon our evil passions.
4. Limitation; restriction.
If all were granted, yet it must be maintained, within any bold restraints, far otherwise than it is received.
5. That which restrains, hinders or represses. The laws are restraints upon injustice.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the act of controlling by restraining someone or something; "the unlawful restraint of trade"
2: discipline in personal and social activities; "he was a model of polite restraint"; "she never lost control of herself" [syn: restraint, control] [ant: unrestraint]
3: the state of being physically constrained; "dogs should be kept under restraint" [syn: constraint, restraint]
4: a rule or condition that limits freedom; "legal restraints"; "restraints imposed on imports"
5: lack of ornamentation; "the room was simply decorated with great restraint" [syn: chasteness, restraint, simplicity, simpleness]
6: a device that retards something's motion; "the car did not have proper restraints fitted" [syn: restraint, constraint]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French restreinte, from restreindre Date: 15th century 1. a. an act of restraining ; the state of being restrained b. (1) a means of restraining ; a restraining force or influence (2) a device that restricts movement <a restraint for children riding in cars> 2. a control over the expression of one's emotions or thoughts

U.S. Military Dictionary

In the context of joint operation planning, a requirement placed on the command by a higher command that prohibits an action, thus restricting freedom of action. See also constraint; operational limitation. (JP 5-0)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the act or an instance of restraining or being restrained. 2 a stoppage; a check; a controlling agency or influence. 3 a self-control; avoidance of excess or exaggeration. b austerity of literary expression. 4 reserve of manner. 5 confinement, esp. because of insanity. 6 something which restrains or holds in check. Phrases and idioms: in restraint of in order to restrain. restraint of trade action seeking to interfere with free-market conditions. Etymology: ME f. OF restreinte fem. past part. of restreindre: see RESTRAIN

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Restraint Re*straint", n. [OF. restraincte, fr. restrainct, F. restreint, p. p. of restraindre, restrendre. See Restrain.] 1. The act or process of restraining, or of holding back or hindering from motion or action, in any manner; hindrance of the will, or of any action, physical or mental. No man was altogether above the restrains of law, and no man altogether below its protection. --Macaulay. 2. The state of being restrained. 3. That which restrains, as a law, a prohibition, or the like; limitation; restriction. For one restraint, lords of the world besides. --Milton. Syn: Repression; hindrance; check; stop; curb;?oercion; confinement; limitation; restriction.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(restraints) 1. Restraints are rules or conditions that limit or restrict someone or something. The Prime Minister is calling for new restraints on trade unions... N-VAR: usu with supp, oft N on n 2. Restraint is calm, controlled, and unemotional behaviour. They behaved with more restraint than I'd expected...

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Check, curb, repression, bridle, suppression, constraint, coercion, compulsion. 2. Hindrance, prevention, limitation, restriction, prohibition. 3. Imprisonment, confinement, detention.

Moby Thesaurus

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