Both Uses of
rein
in
Cry, the Beloved Country
- He climbed into the cart and took up the reins.†
Chpt 3.31 *reins = 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 slid down from his horse, and put the reins round the post.†
Chpt 3.33
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)