rein: [13] A rein is etymologically something that ‘retains’. It goes back via Old French rene to Vulgar Latin *retina, a descendant of the Latin verb retinēre ‘hold back’, from which English gets retain and retinue. The rein for horses has no connection with the rein- of reindeer [14], incidentally; that comes from Old Norse hreinn ‘reindeer’, which may be of Lappish origin. => retain, retinue
rein (n.)
c. 1300, "strap fastened to a bridle," from Old French rene, resne "reins, bridle strap, laces" (Modern French rêne), probably from Vulgar Latin *retina "a bond, check," back-formation from Latin retinere "hold back" (see retain). To give something free rein is originally of horses.
rein (v.)
c. 1300, from rein (n.). Figurative extension "put a check on" first recorded 1580s. Related: Reined; reining. To rein up "halt" (1550s) is from the way to make a horse stop by pulling up on the reins.
双语例句
1. The government would try to rein back inflation.
政府将努力控制通货膨胀。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.
只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. Her parents had kept her on a tight rein with their narrow and inflexible views.
她的父母观念狭隘而僵化，对她管束很严。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The government continued to believe it should give free rein to the private sector in transport.
政府仍然认为应该给予交通领域的私营企业以经营自由。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Mary spoiled both her children, then tried too late to rein them in.
