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Constrain

//kənˈstɹeɪn// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To force physically, by strong persuasion or pressuring; to compel; to oblige. transitive
  2. 2
    severely restrict in scope or extent wordnet
  3. 3
    To keep within close bounds; to confine. transitive

    "But it's not just Castlefield Corridor capacity that constrains services. All the junctions on the lines feeding into the corridor are flat, so they create conflict points as trains pass."

  4. 4
    to close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement wordnet
  5. 5
    To reduce a result in response to limited resources. transitive
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  1. 6
    compel to behave in a certain way wordnet

Etymology

From Middle English constreinen, from Old French constreindre, from Latin cōnstringō, from cōn- (“with, together”) + stringō (“to draw, bind or tie tight”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *streyg- (“to stroke, to shear, stiff”).

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