English

Verb

withstrain ‎(third-person singular simple present withstrains, present participle withstraining, simple past and past participle withstrained)

1. (archaic, transitive) To restrain.
   • 1889–1892, in Cambridge Sermons: Preached Before the University in St. Mary's Church 1889-1892, page 215:

     Even when this is known, [only] with difficulty is the multitude withstrained from doing sacrifice to a Paul and a Barnabas.

   • 1914, Jack London, The Mutiny of the Elsinore, page 22:

     The sailors surrounded him, laying hands on him, withstraining him, the while they guffawed and cheered.

   • 1919 August, in The Pacific Unitarian, volumes 27, number 7, page 2 (170):

     Her ambition became boundless and her patriotism an obsession. Her pride was in her power and she held weakness in contempt. Withstrained by no scruples she placed her reliance in the sword, […]