25 August 2015
constrain
[kuh n-streyn]
verb (used with object)
1. to force, compel, or oblige:
He was constrained to admit the offense.
2. to confine forcibly, as by bonds.
3. to repress or restrain:
Cold weather constrained the plant’s growth.
Origin of constrain
Middle English, Middle French, Latin
1275-1325; Middle English constrei (g) nen < Anglo-French, Middle French constrei (g) n- (stem of constreindre) < Latin constringere. See con-, strain1
Related forms
constrainable, adjective
constrainer, noun
constrainingly, adverb
nonconstraining, adjective
unconstrainable, adjective
Can be confused
coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige (see synonym study at oblige )
Synonyms
1. coerce. 2. check, bind.
Antonyms
2. free.
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for constrain
Contemporary Examples
If they constrain our economy, theirs will suffer too, undoubtedly more.
China’s Reign Ends Tomorrow
Gordon G. Chang
April 10, 2010
Talks don’t seem to constrain the violent actors, and on this occasion seem to have provoked more violence.
The Peace Talks That Kill
Thanassis Cambanis
October 4, 2010
This argument is vital to a larger argument: Do we obey the rules set up to constrain government or not?
Obama’s ISIS War Is Illegal
Sen. Rand Paul
November 9, 2014
Anagram
Cairns ton
Canton sir
Actors inn
Today’s quote
Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.
― Genghis Khan
On this day
25 August 325 – conclusion of the First Council of Nicea, a cabal of 1800 bishops convened by Roman Emperor Constantine I (Constantine the Great) to gain consensus within the church for various doctrinal issues, such as the divinity of Christ, the Holy Trinity and the date for Easter which were articulated in the ‘Creed of Nicea’. The Council was officially opened on 20 May 325.
25 August 1227 – death of Genghis Khan, founder and emperor of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest, contiguous empire in history. At its peak, it covered stretched from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan, and included Southeast Asia, the Indian sub-continent, the Iranian Plateau and the Middle East. It covered 24 million km2 (16% of the Earth’s total land area) and had a population of over 100 million. Born circa 1162.
25 August 1330 – Antipope Nicolaas V overthrows himself by presenting a confession of sins to Pope John XXII, who absolved him. Nicolaas V had previously been excommunicated by Pope John XXII. After his absolution, Nicolaas V was held in ‘honourable imprisonment’ in the papal palace at Avignon until his death in 1333.
25 August 1949 – birth of Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz) in Haifa, Israel. American rock guitarist and song-writer. Co-founder of Kiss.
25 August 1991 – founding of computer operating system, Linux, by Linus Torvalds.
25 August 2012 – death of Neil Armstrong. First man to walk on the moon. Born 5 August 1930.