Fetter — Fet ter (f[e^]t t[ e]r), n. [AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feter[=o]s, pl., OD. veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fj[ o]turr, L. pedica, Gr. pe dh, and to E. foot. [root] 77. See {Foot}.] [Chiefly used in the plural, {fetters}.] 1. A chain or shackle… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fetter — Fet ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fettered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fettering}.] 1. To put fetters upon; to shackle or confine the feet of with a chain; to bind. [1913 Webster] My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. To… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fetter — I noun bond, bridle, catena, chain, check, compes, confinement, constraint, control, curb, detention, deterrence, deterrent, disadvantage, encumbrance, gyve, hamper, handicap, hindrance, impediment, imprisonment, incarceration, inhibition,… … Law dictionary
fetter — vb shackle, *hamper, trammel, clog, manacle, hog tie Analogous words: *hinder, impede, obstruct, block, bar, dam: *restrain, curb, check: baffle, balk, thwart, foil, *frustrate: bind, *tie Contrasted words: * … New Dictionary of Synonyms
fetter — [v] tie up, hold bind, chain, check, clog, confine, cuff, curb, drag feet, encumber, hamper, hamstring*, handcuff, hang up, hinder, hobble, hog tie*, hold captive, leash, manacle, put straitjacket on*, repress, restrain, restrict, shackle, throw… … New thesaurus
fetter — ► NOUN 1) a chain or shackle placed around a prisoner s ankles. 2) a restraint or check. ► VERB 1) restrain with fetters. 2) (be fettered) be restricted. ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
fetter — [fet′ər] n. [ME feter < OE < base of fot, FOOT, akin to Ger fessel] 1. a shackle or chain for the feet 2. anything that holds in check; restraint vt. [ME feterien < OE (ge)feterian] 1. to bind with fetters; shackle; chain … English World dictionary
fetter — {{11}}fetter (n.) O.E. fetor chain or shackle for the feet, from P.Gmc. *fetero (Cf. O.S. feteros (pl.), M.Du. veter fetter, in modern Dutch lace, string, O.H.G. fezzera, O.N. fiöturr, Swed. fjätter), from PIE root *ped foot (see FOOT (Cf … Etymology dictionary
fetter — UK [ˈfetə(r)] / US [ˈfetər] verb [transitive] Word forms fetter : present tense I/you/we/they fetter he/she/it fetters present participle fettering past tense fettered past participle fettered 1) literary to limit someone s freedom to do what… … English dictionary
fetter — [OE] Etymologically, fetters are shackles for restraining the ‘feet’. The word comes from prehistoric Germanic *feterō, which derived ultimately from the same Indo European base, *ped , as produced English foot. The parallel Latin formation,… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins