All 3 Uses of
constraint
in
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
- She knew how to hit to a hair's-breadth that moment of evening when the light and the darkness are so evenly balanced that the constraint of day and the suspense of night neutralize each other, leaving absolute mental liberty.†
Chpt 2 *constraint = something that limits something else
- She soon finished her eating, and having a consciousness that Clare was regarding her, began to trace imaginary patterns on the tablecloth with her forefinger with the constraint of a domestic animal that perceives itself to be watched.†
Chpt 3
- She went out towards the mead, joining the other milkmaids with a bound, as if trying to make the open air drive away her sad constraint.†
Chpt 4
Definitions:
-
(1)
(constraint) limitation (something that limits something else)
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In classic literature, constraint is often used where constrained would be used today to indicate an inhibited attitude (lack of spontaneity).