| 释义 |
constrain, v.|kənˈstreɪn|
Forms: 4 constrane, 4–5 -streign(e, -straygne, 4–6 -streyn(e, -strayn(e, 4–7 -strein(e, (5 -stryne), 5–6 north. -strene, 6 Sc. -stranȝe, 5–7 -straine, 6– -strain. pa. pple. 4–5 constreint, 5–6 -straynte, 6 Sc. -strane.
[ad. OF. constreindre, -aindre, ppl. stem constreign-, -aign- (in mod.F. contraindre, It. costrignere, constringere):—L. constring-ĕre to tie tightly together, compress by tying, f. con- together + stringĕre to draw tight.]
1. trans. To force, compel, oblige:
a. a person to do anything. (The usual const.)
c1386Chaucer Melib. ⁋914 It constreigneth me to do yow grace and mercy. a1400Cursor M. Insertion p. 990 Bot þai constrayned [MS. -oyned] him to dwelle, þat he no farrer might. c1430Life St. Kath. (1884) 11 Þese iiij notable þynges moste nedes constreyne ȝow to enclyne to oure ententes. 1538Starkey England ii. iv. 123 Constreynyd to lerne the Latyn tong. 1606G. W[oodcocke] tr. Hist. Ivstine 67 a, Power..to constraine them delyuer that by force. 1607Shakes. Cor. v. iii. 100 Since that thy sight..Constraines them weepe. 1758S. Hayward Serm. xvi. 479 He never constrained them to walk in the paths of iniquity. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 145 A writ issues to the sheriff..to constrain the party to appear.
b. a person to (into) a course of action, state, place, etc.
c1386Chaucer Clerk's T. 471 Though I do thing to which I am constreynit. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. vi. 54 Men sholde constreyne no clerke to knauene werkes. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 652 Suppois natuir constranȝe him thairto. 1614Raleigh Hist. World ii. 354 They fled into the Woods, fearing to be constrained to the Plough. 1790Cowper Rec. Mother's Picture 86, I should ill requite thee, to constrain Thy unbound spirit into bonds again. 1840Mrs. Browning Drama of Exile, And the elements shall boldly All your dust to dust constrain.
c. with simple object.
a1340Hampole Psalter xxvii. 10 With þaire fre wil, noght constraynd. c1386Chaucer Frankl. T. 41 Wommen of kynde desiren libertee And nat to been constreyned as a thral. 1535Coverdale 2 Kings ii. 17 Neuertheles they constrayned him, tyll he was ashamed, and sayde: Let them go. 1611Bible 2 Cor. v. 14 For the loue of Christ constreineth vs.
d. absol. (without direct object.)
c1340Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1496 Ȝe ar stif innoghe to constrayne wyth strenkþe, ȝif yow likez. 1586Cogan Haven Health ccxi. (1636) 213 Sometimes if hunger constrained, they would double their commons. 1717Pope Ep. to Jervas 67 Led by some rule, that guides, but not constrains. 1873Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. 279 The necessities of metre would naturally constrain to such forms.
e. Dynamics. To restrict the motion of (a body or particle) to a certain course, e.g. along a fixed curve.
1834Whewell (title), On the Motion of Points constrained and resisted. 1856Tait & Steele Dynamics of Particle (1871) 181 A particle is constrained to move on a given smooth plane curve, under the action of given forces in the plane of the curve. Ibid. 193 If the particle be constrained by a circular tube. Ibid. (Contents) 15 String constrained by pulley.
2. To compel or enforce (an action, etc.); to bring about by compulsion or of necessity.
1602Marston Antonio's Rev. v. vi, Other vowes constraine another course. 1603Philotus (1835) 10 It is vnpossible that loue should be constrained, where affection breedes not likyng. 1614Stirling Dooms-day 8th Houre (R.), O! what strange things..Could this man tell, amazement to constraine? a1679Earl of Orrery Hen. V, i, 'Twas a Crime To punish what you did constrain from him. 1725Pope Odyss. i. 22 Calypso in her caves constrain'd his stay. 1741Watts Improv. Mind (1801) 227 Where there is not sufficient testimony to constrain our assent. 1800Addison Amer. Law Rep. 2 The..constrained presumption, that the child whose death was concealed, was killed by the mother.
†3. To force out; to produce by effort, ‘to produce in opposition to nature’ (J.). Obs.
1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 183 They rub their udders with Nettles untill they constrain bloud. a1687Waller (J.), In this northern tract our hoarser throats Utter unripe and ill constrained notes.
†b. To force, assume or produce by straining (any behaviour or expression of feeling). Obs.
c1400Rom. Rose 5316 Which desire is so constreyned That it is but wille feyned. 1605Shakes. Lear ii. ii. 103 This is some Fellow, Who..doth affect A saucy roughnes, and constraines the garb Quite from his Nature. 1702Steele Funeral i. (1734) 15 Could all those Shrieks, those Swoonings, that rising falling Bosom be constrain'd? 1725Pope Odyss. i. 490 [He] constrain'd a smile, and thus ambiguous spoke.
†4. refl. To exert or strain oneself. Obs. rare.
c1510Gesta Rom. 430 Whiche this yonge damosell seynge, constreyned herselfe, and ranne so fast, tyll at the last she had hym at a vauntage agayne.
†5.
a. To take by force, force to surrender. Obs.
1699Dryden Ep. to J. Driden 153 Namur subdu'd is England's palm alone; The rest besieg'd, but we constrain'd the town.
†b. To violate, force. Obs.
1588Shakes. Tit. A. v. ii. 178 Her spotlesse Chastity, Inhumaine Traytors, you constrain'd and for'st.
†6. To press hard upon, straiten, reduce to straits; to oppress, afflict, distress. Obs.
c1450Merlin iv. 65 The grete peyne that he was Inne for the love of Ygerne, that so hym constrayned that he myght nother ete ne slepe. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccxxxiv. 328 He had dayly great complayntes made to hym..wherwith his hart was sore constrayned for displeasure. c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 95 To constrayne, opprimer. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (1884) 27 That necessitie constrayne thame nocht quha ar within..this Ile hes a pasture..that may feid sum wethiris. 1859Tennyson Geraint & Enid 716 But since our fortune slipt from sun to shade..cruel need Constrain'd us, but a better time has come.
†7. To compress into small compass; to contract. Obs. rare.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. i. i. 5 Þe stature of hir was of a doutous iugement, for sumtyme sche constreyned and schronk hir seluen lyche to þe comune mesure of men.
8. To confine forcibly, keep in bonds, imprison.
1382Wyclif Ezek. xxxi. 15 Y..forbedde the floodis of hym, and constreinede many watris. 1590Spenser F.Q. ii. iv. 15 With hundred yron chaines he did him bind, And hundred knots, that did him sore constraine. 1612Drayton Polyolb. Notes to Song ix. 145 The South-west wind constrained betwene two hils on both sides of the lake. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 634 He binds in Chains The drowzy Prophet, and his Limbs constrains. a1732Gay (J.), How the strait stays the slender waste constrain? 1821Shelley Epipsych. 398 The walls are high, the gates are strong,..—but true love never yet Was thus constrained. 1879Butcher & Lang Odyssey 7 And hard men constrain him, wild folk that hold him..sore against his will.
†b. To check, stop, staunch. Obs.
c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. (MS. A) 66 If þe blood come fro grete veynes he mai nouȝt so sumtyme be constreyned. Ibid. 68 If..þou maist not sowde þe arterie ne þe veyne ne þou maist not constreyne þe blood.
c. To press or clasp tightly in one's arms. poet.
1697Dryden (J.), When..The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast, And with sweet kisses in her arms constrains. 1861Temple & Trevor Tannhäuser 27 And all for joy constrain'd him to his breast.
d. fig. To restrain within bounds, to limit.
a1618Raleigh (J.), Overweak to resist the first inclination of evil, or after, when it became habitual, to constrain it. 1708Rowe Royal Convert iii. (1766) 44 Constrain your temper, Sir; be false and meet her With her own sex's arts. 1878Morley Condorcet 36 It was impossible..to constrain within prescribed limits the activity.
†9. = constringe, constrict. Obs.
1398[see constraining ppl. a. 2]. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. (MS. A) 77 Olde woundis þat ben maad..of to greet cold constreynynge. Ibid. 105. Ibid. 263 If þe spasme come..þat wole constryne þe tunge inward. 1586Cogan Haven Health cxiv. (1636) 115 Services..are..to be eaten after meat, to constraine and close up the stomacke. 1599Hakluyt Voy. II. ii. 335 Vehement heate resolueth the radicall moysture of mens bodies, as colde constraineth and preserueth the same. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 430 When Winter Frosts constrain the Field with Cold.
10. To subject to restraint of behaviour. rare.
a1745Swift Directions to Footman (Seager), Leave the company to converse more freely, without being constrained by your presence. 1847Emerson Repr. Men, Montaigne Wks. (Bohn) I. 343, I..think..old friends who do not constrain me..the most suitable. |