| 释义 |
enchain, v.|ɛnˈtʃeɪn|
Forms: 4 encheinen, 5–7 enchayn, 7 encheine, 6–8 inchain, 7 inchayn, 6– enchain.
[a. OF. enchaine-r, f. en- (see en-1) + chaine chain n.]
1. trans. To put in or bind with chains; to chain up, fetter.
1491Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. xxx. 26 b/2 Some men broughte to hym a chylde enchayned. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1331 Putting into their [Christian slaves] places the Turkes which had inchained them. 1756Nugent Gr. Tour France IV. 73 The statue of Lewis XIV..with four slaves enchained, denotes his victories.
†b. To surround or hem in as with a chain.
1581Styward Mart. Discip. ii. 129 The Turke..doth inchaine and fortifie the Campe.
2. fig.
a. To ‘fetter’, restrain; to impede the free or natural action of.
1751Johnson Rambl. No. 159 ⁋5 Bashfulness..may flush the cheek..and enchain the tongue. 1838–9Hallam Hist. Lit. IV. iv. vii. §57 He was never enchained by rules. 1880Mazzini Royalty & Repub. 187 Do not enchain one of its [the intellect's] faculties.
b. To hold fast, rivet (the attention); to bind, attach (the emotions) closely to an object. Hence with personal obj. See enchaining ppl. a.
1658T. Wall God's Rev. Enemies Ch. 17 Great affection..believes a possibility of that to the liking of which it is enchained. 1844A. Welby Poems (1867) 46 Thy song enchained a thousand hearts. 1851C. Brontë in Mrs. Gaskell Life (1857) II. 236 Rachel's acting..enchained me with interest, and thrilled me with horror. 1863Burton Bk. Hunter 48 In a noble library the visitor is enchained to reverence and courtesy by the genius of the place.
†c. intr. for refl. To become closely united. Obs.
c1400Test. Love ii. (1560) 285/2 Dignitie with honour, and reverence, causen harts to encheinen.
†3. To link together as in a chain. Obs.
1642Howell For. Trav. (1869) 33 One contracts and enchaines his words. 1768Bp. Warburton Lett. Eminent Divine (1809) 422 The parts of the argument are so enchained with one another that, etc.
Hence enˈchained ppl. a.
1654R. Codrington tr. Hist. Ivstine 297 He..filled not, as his Father, the prisons with enchained Citizens. |