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mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion.

Containing praise or eulogy; encomiastic; laudatory. "Panegyric strains." Pope. -- Pan`e*gyr"ic*al*ly, adv. Some of his odes are panegyrical. Dryden.

retion; as, to part gold from silver. The liver minds his own affair, . . . And parts and strains the vital juices. Prior.

paul, or pall.] Pawl bitt (Naut.), a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls. -- Pawl rim or ring (Naut.), a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.

A record of the lineage or strain of an animal, as of a horse.

One of the pins of a musical instrument, on which the strings are strained. Shak.

To cause to pass through fine interstices, as a liquor; to filter; to strain. Sir M. Hale.

The act or process of percolating, or filtering; filtration; straining. Specifically (Pharm.), the process of exhausting the virtues of a powdered drug by letting a liquid filter slowly through it.

patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled; pied. "A piebald steed of Thracian strain." Dryden.

To disable or restrain, as a person, by binding the arms, esp. by binding the arms to the body. Shak. Her elbows pinioned close upon her hips. Cowper.

To distrain. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

One who distrains property. [Scot.] Jamieson.

of the state to protect the public against the abuse of individual liberty, that is, to restrain the individual in the exercise of his rights when such exercise becomes a danger to the community. The tendency of judicial and popular usage is towards this narrower definition.

One who limits, or restrains. [Obs.]

formance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture. The last Georgic was a good prelude to…

To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel. Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. Acts xviii. 5.

uce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait. He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl. Clarendon. Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. Swift.

A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name. Ps. cxlii. 7. The tyrant Æolus, . . . With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds, And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds. Dryden.

son under arrest, or in custody, whether in prison or not; a person held in involuntary restraint; a captive; as, a prisoner at the bar of a court. Bouvier. Prisoner of Hope thou art, -- look up and sing. Keble. Prisoner's base. See Base, n., 24.

ss; facility; aptitude. He had such a dexterous proclivity as his teachers were fain to restrain his forwardness. Sir H. Wotton.