/ rɪˈstrɪktɪv; NAmE / adjective
1.
preventing people from doing what they want :
restrictive laws
2.
( grammar ) ( of relative clauses ) explaining which particular person or thing you are talking about rather than giving extra information about them. In 'The books which are on the table are mine', 'which are on the table' is a restrictive relative clause.
—compare non-restrictive
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French restrictif , -ive , from medieval Latin restrictivus , from restrict- confined, from the verb restringere , from re- back + stringere to tie, pull tight.