See Also: miter(dictionary)

constrain (iou) and miter (oh)


constrain (iou)



constrain verb. ME.
[Old French constraindre (mod. contraindre), pres. stem constraign-, from Latin constringere bind tightly together, formed as CON- + stringere (see STRAIN verb1).]
1. a. verb trans. & intrans. Compel or oblige (a person; to or into a course of action, state, etc.; to do); urge irresistibly or by necessity. ME.
Pope Some rule, that guides, but not constrains. J. Fuller The season constrained them to carry on the harvest.
b. verb trans. Bring about by compulsion. E17.
I. Watts Sufficient testimony to constrain our assent.
c. verb trans. Mechanics. Restrict the motion of (a body or particle) to a certain path. M19.
2. verb trans. Force out; produce by effort or straining. LME-E18.
3. verb trans. Afflict, distress. LME-M19.
4. verb trans. Confine forcibly; imprison. LME.
b. fig. Limit, keep within bounds. E17.
5. verb trans. Constrict, contract. LME-L17.
6. verb trans. Take by force; ravish. L16-L17.
constrainable adjective LME.
constrained adjective that has been constrained; not natural; embarrassed; (earlier in UNCONSTRAINED): E16.
constrainedly adverb M16.
constrainer noun (rare) LME.

miter (oh)



[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: mitre, from Latin mitra 'band around the head', from Greek]
the American spelling of mitre