Search the Dictionary

To let loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude; to give liberty to, or to set at liberty; to let go. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. Mark xv. 6.

division of a subject into too many unconnected parts, and also to anything which is overstrained; as, a painting may want repose. Angle of repose (Physics), the inclination of a plane at which a body placed on the plane would remain at rest, or if in motion would roll or side down with uniform velocity; the angle at…

To reprove or reprimand with a view of restraining, checking, or preventing; to make charge of fault against; to disapprove of; to chide; to blame; to censure. Chaucer. Aristippus being reprehended of luxury by one that was not rich, for that he gave six crowns for a small fish. Bacon. Pardon me for reprehending thee.…

Hence, to check; to restrain; to keep back. Desire of wine and all delicious drinks, . . . Thou couldst repress. Milton.

That which represses; check; restraint.

ree or deliver from any confinement, violence, danger, or evil; to liberate from actual restraint; to remove or withdraw from a state of exposure to evil; as, to rescue a prisoner from the enemy; to rescue seamen from destruction. Had I been seized by a hungry lion, I would have been a breakfast to the best, Rather tha…

Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior. My soul, surprised, and from her sex disjoined, Left all reserve, and all the sex, behind. Prior. The clergyman's shy and sensitive reserve had balked this scheme. Hawthorne.

Restrained from freedom in words or actions; backward, or cautious, in communicating one's thoughts and feelings; not free or frank. To all obliging, yet reserved to all. Walsh. Nothing reserved or sullen was to see. Dryden. -- Re*serv"ed*ly (r, adv. -- Re*serv"ed*ness, n.

The mechanical work required to strain an elastic body, as a deflected beam, stretched spring, etc., to the elastic limit; also, the work performed by the body in recovering from such strain.

To restrain within bounds; to limit; to confine; as, to restrict worlds to a particular meaning; to restrict a patient to a certain diet.

That which restricts; limitation; restraint; as, restrictions on trade.

To restrain; to prevent. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple. Retaining wall (Arch. & Engin.), a wall built to keep any movable backing, or a bank of sand or earth, in its place; -- called also retain wall.

To make an effort to vomit; to strain, as in vomiting. [Written also reach.] Beloved Julia, hear me still beseeching! (Here he grew inarticulate with retching.) Byron.

That which retains or confines; a restraint. [R.] Bp. Hall.

To move playfully; to indulge without restraint. "Where joy most revels." Shak.

To hold back; to repress; to restrain. [Obs.] [She] still strove their sudden rages to revoke. Spenser.

or hard, slow or fast. To ride easy (Naut.), to lie at anchor without violent pitching or straining at the cables. -- To ride hard (Naut.), to pitch violently. -- To ride out. (a) To go upon a military expedition. [Obs.] Chaucer. (b) To ride in the open air. [Colloq.] -- To ride to hounds, to ride behind, and near to…

Wanton or unrestrained behavior; uproar; tumult. His headstrong riot hath no curb. Shak.

Involving, or engaging in, riot; wanton; unrestrained; luxurious. The younger son . . . took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke xv. 13.

tion, vocal or instrumental, commonly of a lively, cheerful character, in which the first strain recurs after each of the other strains. "The Rondo-form was the earliest and most frequent definite mold for musical construction." Grove.