Both Uses of
rein
in
Love's Labour's Lost
- Sweet Lord Longaville, rein thy tongue.†
Scene 5.2 *rein = restrain or control
- I must rather give it the rein, for it runs against Hector.†
Scene 5.2
Definition:
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.)