Both Uses
rein
in
Cry, the Beloved Country
(Auto-generated)
- He climbed into the cart and took up the reins.†
Chpt 3.31 *
- He slid down from his horse, and put the reins round the post.†
Chpt 3.33
Definitions:
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(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) to "give free rein" is not to restrain (not to exercise control over)