Pronunciation: [ɹɪstɹˈe͡ɪnt] (IPA) 
The word "restraint" is spelled with the letters r-e-s-t-r-a-i-n-t. In terms of phonetics, it is pronounced as /rɪˈstreɪnt/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "r" is pronounced with a slight emphasis, followed by the short "i" sound. The "s" is pronounced as an unvoiced "s" sound, while the "t-r" sound is pronounced as a single consonant. The final syllable "-aint" is pronounced with a long "a" sound and a soft "n" sound.
Restraint is a noun that refers to the act or practice of holding back or restraining oneself from engaging in certain behaviors, actions, or emotions. It involves showing self-control, discipline, or moderation in one's conduct, especially when faced with strong impulses or temptations.
In terms of behavior, restraint often implies avoiding excesses, extremes, or impulsive actions. It can be seen as a form of self-discipline, where one consciously restricts their behavior to maintain order, decorum, or social norms. This may involve refraining from aggressive or violent actions, resisting the urge to speak out of turn, or controlling one's bodily actions in order to maintain harmonious relationships with others.
Restraint can also be applied to emotions. It is about managing and controlling one's feelings, preventing them from overwhelming or taking control over someone. For instance, maintaining restraint in expressing anger or frustration involves consciously recognizing and regulating the intensity and duration of these emotions, avoiding impulsive outbursts or actions that may have negative consequences.
Overall, restraint is a concept that encompasses various aspects of self-control, discipline, and moderation in behavior and emotions. It refers to the conscious effort to hold back, limit, or temper one's own impulses, desires, or reactions, not only to maintain personal balance and integrity but also to preserve the welfare and harmony of individuals and society as a whole.
The act of restraining; abridgment of liberty; restriction; hindrance of will; repression; that which restrains.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "restraint" derives from the Old French noun "restrainte" which means "a holding back, check, or control". It comes ultimately from the Latin verb "restringere", formed by the combination of the prefix "re-" meaning "back" or "again", and the verb "stringere" meaning "to bind or tighten". This Latin verb gave rise to the French verb "restreindre", later transformed into "restraindre", which then resulted in "restrainte" and eventually evolved into the modern English word "restraint". The Latin root "restringere" has the literal sense of "binding back" or "tightening again", reflecting the concept of holding back, limiting, or restraining something.
