All 7 Uses of
rein
in
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
- She made him a sort of nest in front of the hives, in such a manner that he could not fall, and, taking the reins into her own hands, jogged on as before.†
Chpt 1reins = a means of control -- most commonly the straps attached to a bit in a horse's mouth that are used to control it OR restrains or controls
- She was determined to show no open fear, but she clutched d'Urberville's rein-arm.†
Chpt 1 *rein = restrain or control
- He loosened rein, and away they went a second time.†
Chpt 1
- He drew rein, and as they slowed he was on the point of imprinting the desired salute, when, as if hardly yet aware of her own modesty, she dodged aside.†
Chpt 1
- His arms being occupied with the reins there was left him no power to prevent her manoeuvre.†
Chpt 1reins = a means of control -- most commonly the straps attached to a bit in a horse's mouth that are used to control it OR restrains or controls
- He leapt up lightly, arranged the reins, and was gone between the tall red-berried hedges.†
Chpt 2
- As soon as Clare had taken the reins from the ostler, and the young couple had driven off, the two men went in the other direction.†
Chpt 4
Definitions:
-
(1)
(rein as in: to rein in their activities) to restrain or control; or a means of controlThe 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) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
To "rein in" or to "keep a tight rein" is to restrain.
To "give free rein" is not to restrain (not to exercise control over)