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chained

chained

4.1
Held tight by metal so it cannot move or escape
  • adjective
  • /tʃeɪnd/
translation icon : encadenado
  • You could be chained with a metallic chain around your ankle to a tree.

When they take you to shower, your chained, your chained up, your leg ironed.

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Examples

  • The old car was chained to the fence to prevent it from being stolen.

  • During the inspection, the dogs were chained to their kennels for safety.

  • In some countries, people with mental health conditions are sent to faith healers, where they could end up chained for years.

  • If I were only a little green parrot and not your baby, mother, dear, would you keep me chained lest I should fly away?

  • You have some prisoners and they're chained in this cave and there's a fire somewhere, and all that they can see is their own shadows against a wall.

  • In the dark cell, the prisoner felt chained to his past mistakes.

Synonyms

in chains
vschained
33 6.3

A person who has metal bands on the hands or feet so they cannot move

is about being secured with metal links often to stop movement
tethered to
vschained
8 4.4

Tied to something by a rope so you cannot move away, like a post or a dock

is about being secured with metal links instead of an attached line
bound
vschained
6 4.2

Tied or fastened to stop movement

is more specific, using metal links rather than general fastenings
enchained
vschained
  • Archaic
9.1

Held with chains or by rules that stop you from acting

focuses on actual securing with metal links rather than metaphorical restraint
shackled
vschained
7.0

Held by chains around the ankles so the person cannot move freely

is broader, covering securing with metal links not only ankle cuffs
fettered
vschained
8.1

Held by chains or ties so someone cannot move and cannot act freely

is a general securing with metal links rather than specific leg restraints
tethered
vschained
5.1

Held by a rope or chain so it cannot move far

is similar but specifically uses metal links rather than rope
pinioned
vschained
9.7

A person or animal held tightly with the arms tied behind the back

is about overall securing with metal links, not just limb restraint
trussed
vschained
8.1

Tied tightly with rope or string so arms and legs cannot move

uses metal links to secure motion rather than tight rope bindings
tied
vschained
1.0

Fastened with string or rope

uses metal links rather than general cord or rope to secure
fastened
vschained
1.3

Kept closed so it does not open or move

is targeted toward preventing escape using metal links rather than simple closures

Antonyms

1.0

Able to act as you want without limits

5 5.2

Not tied or held, able to move and act freely

How Restrained

shackled
7.0
chained
4.1
tethered
5.1
free
1.0

Surface Forms

chained positive

Morphology

chained = chain (transparent) = chain + ed

Direct past-participial/adjectival formation from the verb 'chain' meaning 'to fasten with a chain', so the meaning is immediately obvious to learners.

Etymology

Chained comes from chain, which goes back to the old Latin word catena, meaning 'a line of linked rings'. So something chained is 'bound' or held by those linked rings to stop it from moving.