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tr.v. con·strained, con·strain·ing, con·strains 1. a. To keep within certain limits; confine or limit: "Legislators ... used the power of the purse to constrain the size of the military" (Julian E. Zelizer). b. To inhibit or restrain; hold back: "She noticed her mother blushing and acting somewhat constrained in her conversation with the grandmother" (David Huddle). 2. To compel by physical, moral, or circumstantial force; oblige: felt constrained to object to his behavior. 3. To produce in a forced or inhibited manner: "This smile seemed to touch something off in her ... and playfully she constrained her own roguish smile" (Naeem Murr). [Middle English constreinen, from Old French constraindre, constraign-, from Latin cōnstringere, to restrain, compress : com-, com- + stringere, to bind, press together; see streig- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] con·straina·ble adj. con·strained·ly (-strānĭd-lē) adv. con·strainer n. |
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