# rein

Pronunciation: say "RAYN" /ɹeɪn/

## Noun

1. A long strap fastened to a bit or bridle, used by a rider or driver to guide and check a horse or other animal; also, a strap on a young child's harness.
   - Simple: A strap used to guide and control a horse, another animal, or a small child.
   - _She gathered up the reins and urged the mare into a trot._
   - _The left rein had snapped, so he could steer the horse only to the right._
2. A means of curbing, restraining, or governing someone or something.
   - Simple: A way of holding back or controlling someone or something.
   - _The board kept a tight rein on spending throughout the merger._
   - _After the election she took the reins of the party._

## Verb

3. To restrain something or keep it in check.
   - Simple: To hold back something, like your feelings, so it stays under control.
   - _The new manager promised to rein in costs before the end of the year._
   - _She spoke with barely reined fury about the months of delays._
4. To guide or stop a horse by means of the reins.
   - Simple: To steer or stop a horse with the reins.
   - _She reined her horse to a stop at the edge of the creek._
   - _Barrel racers rein their mounts tightly around each barrel._
5. To obey the directions a rider gives through the reins.
   - Simple: To turn or stop when the rider uses the reins.
   - _The young mare reins beautifully and stops on a dime._
   - _Ranch horses that rein well bring high prices at auction._

## Noun

6. A person's inward impulses, affections and passions, once thought to be seated in the region of the kidneys. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Your deepest feelings, which people long ago thought came from the kidneys.
7. A kidney; used chiefly in the plural, for the kidneys. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A kidney, or, in the plural, both kidneys.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–5** — Classical Latin retineō ("hold back"), made of re- and teneō ("keep, hold"), is the ultimate source. Early Medieval Latin retina came from it, then Anglo-Norman reyne, resne, and then Middle English rein, reyne. Compare modern French rêne. The word pushed out several native Old English words for a rein, including brīdel ("bridle, rein") and wealdleþer (literally "control strap").
**Meanings 6–7** — The word draws on Latin rēnēs and on its descendants, Anglo-Norman reines and Middle French reins. Ren is a doublet.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/rein (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).