All 3 Uses of
constrained
in
Tom Jones, by Henry Fielding
- And now he soon perceived her behaviour totally changed; for instead of that natural affability which we have before celebrated, she wore a constrained severity on her countenance, which was so disagreeable to Mr Jones, that he resolved, however late, to quit the house that evening.†
Book 8constrained = restricted; or lacking spontaneity
- The lieutenant, who was neither a sot nor a sportsman, was frequently of our parties; indeed he was very little with my husband, and no more than good breeding constrained him to be, as he lived almost constantly at our house.†
Book 11 *
- And now they all spent a very chearful evening together; for all but Jones were heartily merry, and even he put on as much constrained mirth as possible.†
Book 13
Definitions:
-
(1)
(constrained) restricted or inhibited
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much more rarely (and archaically), constrain can mean to force someone to do something.