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Glite Dictionary
to enchain

to enchain

1 9.5
To tie someone with chains or hold them under close control
  • verb
  • /ɪnˈtʃeɪn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : encadenar
  • Love and marriage are perceived as particularly grim forms of imprisonment, servitudes that condemn the partners, unable to save or even reach each other, to live behind their private walls or, like two people enchained, each choking the other with murderous possessiveness.

Examples

  • Man is born ignorant and soon becomes enchained in religion.

    Blog text (20)

  • They have been enchained, excluded, stereotyped, and mistreated by those who perceived them as inferiors.

    Academic text (2009)

  • How can the music be free when the people of White Lake are enchained?

    Taking Woodstock (2009)

  • This is similar to what Paulo Freire (1970) means when he avers that oppression enchains both oppressors and the oppressed.

    Academic text (2018)

  • The prisoners were enchained in their cells, unable to escape.

  • His addiction has enchained him, making it hard for him to find freedom.

  • The oppressive regime aimed to enchain the citizens through strict laws and constant surveillance.

Synonyms

to lock
vsto enchain
∞ 1.0

To fasten something with a key so other people cannot open it

involves binding with linked metal restraints rather than merely locking access
to tie
vsto enchain
314 4.2

To make someone stay in one place or situation

is more about physical or figurative binding using linked metal restraints
to shackle
vsto enchain
35 6.2

To restrain someone with chains or limit their freedom

is similar but names the act of binding with linked metal restraints broadly
to tie up
vsto enchain
25 3.8

Cause a delay that stops activity or movement

emphasizes physical or metaphorical binding by linked metal restraints rather than delay
to tether
vsto enchain
23 4.4

To tie an animal or object so it cannot move away

is broader, applying to binding with linked metal restraints anywhere, not only area limiting
to chain up
vsto enchain
19 4.6

To tie someone or something with a chain to keep them from moving

is the general idea of binding with linked metal restraints literally or metaphorically
to tie down
vsto enchain
17 4.7

To limit someone's freedom because they have responsibilities

is literal or figurative binding using linked metal restraints rather than dependency
to encumber
vsto enchain
9 7.6

To make it difficult for someone or something to act

means physical or figurative binding with linked metal restraints rather than burdening
to tie someone's hands
vsto enchain
1 4.8

Stop someone from acting or making decisions

is about binding with linked metal restraints rather than limiting decision power
to manacle
vsto enchain
1 9.3

To put locked metal rings around someone's wrists to stop them moving

covers binding by linked metal restraints in either physical or figurative senses
to bind hand and foot
vsto enchain
  • Informal
1 8.0

To stop someone completely from acting freely

focuses instead on binding specifically with linked metal restraints rather than total immobilization
to ensnarl
vsto enchain
1 9.3

To catch something in a net or trap so it cannot move

is specific to binding with linked metal restraints rather than entangling

How Bound

to immobilize
21 6.0
to shackle
35 6.2
to enchain
  • Archaic
1 9.5
to bind
132 3.2
to tie
923 1.0

Surface Forms

enchain infinitive
enchained past
enchained past participle
enchainning present participle
enchains third person singular

Morphology

enchain = chain (transparent) = en + chain

The verb is formed by productive English prefixation en- + the noun 'chain', meaning 'to put in chains', which is directly derivable.

Etymology

Enchain comes from the prefix en- meaning 'in' and the familiar word chain, so it originally meant to put someone 'in chains'. That's why to enchain is to bind or trap someone physically, and we also use it for strong feelings or ideas that hold a person back.