All 8 Uses

rein
in
Far from the Madding Crowd
(Auto-generated)

On nearing the cattle-shed she was met by a boy bringing a milking-pail, who held the reins of the pony whilst she slid off.†
Chpt 1-3 *
It came from the man who held the reins.†
Chpt 4-6
Shepherd Oak, Jan Coggan, Moon, Poorgrass, Cain Ball, and several others were assembled here, all dripping wet to the very roots of their hair, and Bathsheba was standing by in a new riding-habit—the most elegant she had ever worn—the reins of her horse being looped over her arm.†
Chpt 19-21
Tall scrambled off to the field, and in two minutes was on Poll, the bay, bare-backed, and with only a halter by way of rein.†
Chpt 19-21
Though on foot, he held the reins and whip, and occasionally aimed light cuts at the horse's ear with the end of the lash, as a recreation.†
Chpt 37-39
"Stay where you are, and attend to the horse!" said Troy, peremptorily throwing her the reins and the whip.†
Chpt 37-39
Troy then came on towards his wife, stepped into the gig, took the reins from her hand, and without making any observation whipped the horse into a trot.†
Chpt 37-39
About half-an-hour later she invigorated herself by an effort, and took her seat and the reins as usual—in external appearance much as if nothing had happened.†
Chpt 46-48

Definitions:

(1) (rein as in: to rein in their activities)
to restrain or control; or a means of control
The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
- "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" -- to control or restrain
- "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" -- do not restrain
- "the reins of government" -- means of control
- "the reins of the horse" -- leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
to "give free rein" is not to restrain (not to exercise control over)