restrained etymology

Etymology:

  • Old French: restraindre
  • Latin: restringere "draw back, tie in or around"
  • re- "back" + stringere "to draw tight" (related to "strict")

Meaning:

To hold back, confine, limit, or control something.

Origin:

The word "restrained" comes from the Old French verb "restraindre," which itself derived from the Latin verb "restringere." In Latin, "restringere" meant "to draw back, tie in or around" and was often used in a figurative sense to describe restraining or limiting something.

The prefix "re-" in Latin means "back," and the verb "stringere" means "to draw tight." Thus, the original meaning of "restringere" was to pull something back and tighten it, which could then be extended to mean restraining or confining something in a more general sense.

The word "restrained" entered the English language in the 14th century and has been in use ever since, retaining its basic meaning of "to hold back, confine, limit, or control." It is commonly used in a variety of contexts, including:

  • To describe someone who is calm, reserved, or controlled
  • To describe a situation that is limited or restricted
  • To describe an action or behavior that is held back or restrained

restrained relate terms

  • restriction

    Etymology Old French restriction a limiting binding or restraining Latin restri

  • restrained

    Etymology Old French restraindre Latin restringere draw back tie in or around re

  • quiet

    Etymology The word quiet originates from the Latin word quietus meaning rest ca

  • moderate

    Etymology Middle French modéré from Latin moderatus past participle of moderari

  • measurable

    Etymology Measurable derives from the Latin word mēnsūra meaning measure Meaning

  • modest

    Etymology The word modest comes from the Latin word modestus which means moderate

  • patient

    Etymology Latin patiens Present participle of the verb pati meaning to suffer en

  • moderator

    Etymology The word moderator has its origins in Latin moderator noun a person who

  • sober

    Etymology Late 14th century from Middle English sobur from Old French sobre from Lat

  • bound

    Etymology Old English bindan Proto Germanic bindaną Meaning To tie fasten

  • truss

    Etymology Middle English trus Old French trus beam support Late Latin trabs beam

  • contain

    Etymology Latin continere Late Latin contēnere Meaning To hold or enclose s