All 11 Uses of
bound
in
Romeo and Juliet
- But Montague is bound as well as I,
p. 24.1bound = constrained by an oath
- Not mad, but bound more than a madman is,
Shut up in prison,p. 28.0bound = constrained
- Find written in the margin of his eyes.
This precious book of love, this unbound lover,p. 38.2unbound = unconstrainedstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unbound means not and reverses the meaning of bound. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings,
And soar with them above a common bound.p. 40.8bound = limit
- I am too sore enpierced with his shaft
To soar with his light feathers; and so bound,
I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe.
Under love's heavy burden do I sink.p. 40.8bound = constrained
- My bounty is as boundless as the sea.
My love as deep. The more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.p. 76.8boundless = limitlessstandard suffix: The suffix "-less" in boundless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.
- Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound?p. 140.9 *bound = wrapped
- ... 'Romeo is banished.'
There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,
In that word's death. No words can that woe sound.p. 144.2 *bound = limit
- I met the youthful lord at Lawrence' cell,
And gave him what becomed love I might,
Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty.p. 196.4bounds = limits
- Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,
All our whole city is much bound to him.p. 196.7bound = obligated
- I am too sore enpierced with his shaft
To soar with his light feathers; and so bound,
I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe:
Under love's heavy burden do I sink.†p. 40.9 *
Definitions:
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(1)
(bound as in: south-bound lanes) traveling in a particular direction or to a specific location
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(2)
(bound as in: bound to succeed) almost certain to; or determined to
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(3)
(bound as in: bound together or bound by law) constrained and/or held together or wrappedThe sense of constrained, can mean tied up or obligated depending upon the context. For example:
- "Her wrists were bound." -- tied up
- "I am bound by my word." -- required or obligated (in this case to keep a promise)
- "He is muscle bound." -- prevented from moving easily (due to having such large, tight muscles)
The exact meaning of the senses of held together or wrapped also depend upon context. For example:- "The pages of the book are bound with glue." -- held together physically
- "The book is bound in leather." -- wrapped or covered
- "The United States and England are bound together by a common language." -- connected or united (tied together, figuratively)
- "She cleaned the wound and bound it with fresh bandages." -- wrapped
- "She is wheelchair-bound." -- connected (moves with a wheelchair because she is unable to walk)
- "The jacket has bound buttonholes." -- edges wrapped by fabric or trim rather than stitches
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(4)
(bound as in: out of bounds) a boundary or limit
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(5)
(bound as in: The deer bound across the trail.) to leap or jump
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(6)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) For more specialized senses of bound, see a comprehensive dictionary. For example, the word can refer to constipation and has specialized meanings in law, chemistry, logic, and linguistics.