Rein

Pronunciation

• IPA: /reɪn/
• Rhymes: -eɪn
• Homophones: rain, reign

Anglo-Norman reyne, from Old French resne (Modern French rêne), from Vulgar Latin *retina, from Classical Latin retineō ("to retain"), from re- + teneō.

Full definition of rein

Noun

1. A strap or rope attached to the bridle or bit, used to control a horse, animal or young child.
2. (figurative) An instrument or means of curbing, restraining, or governing.
• MiltonLet their eyes rove without rein.

Verb

1. To direct or stop a horse by using reins.
• ChapmanHe mounts and reins his horse.
2. To restrain; to control; to check.
• ShakespeareBeing once chafed, he cannot
  Be reined again to temperance.

Derived terms

• rein in

Derived terms

From Anglo-Norman reines, Middle French reins, and their source, Latin rēnēs.

Noun

1. (now rare, archaic, chiefly in plural) A kidney.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.12:a man subject to these like imaginations ... hath often the stone imaginarily, before he have it in his reines ....
• 1611, King James Bible, :He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.
2. The inward impulses; the affections and passions, formerly supposed to be located in the area of the kidneys.
• Bible, Proverbs xxiii. 16My reins rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
• Bible, Revelations ii. 23I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts.

Anagrams

• Erin
• in re