/keuhn straynt"/ , n.
1. limitation or restriction.
2. repression of natural feelings and impulses: to practice constraint.
3. unnatural restraint in manner, conversation, etc.; embarrassment.
4. something that constrains.
5. the act of constraining.
6. the condition of being constrained.
7. Ling. a restriction on the operation of a linguistic rule or the occurrence of a linguistic construction.
[ 1350-1400; ME constreinte constreindre; see CONSTRAIN ]
Syn. 1. force, obligation, pressure.