constrain
/kənˈstɹeɪn/ verb C1- To force physically, by strong persuasion or pressuring; to compel; to oblige.
- To keep within close bounds; to confine.
- To reduce a result in response to limited resources.
He/she/it constrains · Past constrained · Past participle constrained · -ing form constraining
Verb forms
- Base form
- constrain
- He/she/it
- constrains
- Past
- constrained
- Past participle
- constrained
- -ing form
- constraining
From the library
At length Darcy spoke, and in a constrained manner said,--
Noirtier, even she would have been constrained to pity him.
“Oh,” said Morrel, “I know not, indeed, if I may reveal this secret to mortal ears, but fatality impels me, necessity constrains me, count——” Morrel hesitated.
It gave me a chance of listening to your racy conversation which would have been painfully constrained had you been aware of my presence."
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