v. Forms: 4 encheinen, 5–7 enchayn, 7 encheine, 6–8 inchain, 7 inchayn, 6– enchain. [a. OF. enchaine-r, f. en- (see EN-1) + chaine CHAIN sb.]
1. trans. To put in or bind with chains; to chain up, fetter.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. xxx. 26 b/2. Some men broughte to hym a chylde enchayned.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 1331. Putting into their [Christian slaues] places the Turkes which had inchained them.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, France, IV. 73. The statue of Lewis XIV. … with four slaves enchained, denotes his victories.
† b. To surround or hem in as with a chain.
1581. Styward, Mart. Discipl., II. 129. The Turke … doth inchaine and fortifie the Campe.
2. fig. a. To ‘fetter,’ restrain; to impede the free or natural action of.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 159, ¶ 5. Bashfulness … may flush the cheek … and enchain the tongue.
1838–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., IV. IV. vii. § 57. He was never enchained by rules.
1880. Mazzini, Royalty & Repub., 187. Do not enchain one of its [the intellect’s] faculties.
b. To hold fast, rivet (the attention); to bind, attach (the emotions) closely to an object. Hence with personal obj. See ENCHAINING ppl. a.
1658. T. Wall, God’s Rev. Enemies Ch., 17. Great affection … believes a possibility of that to the liking of which it is enchained.
1844. A. B. Welby, Poems (1867), 46. Thy song enchained a thousand hearts.
1851. C. Brontë, in Mrs. Gaskell, Life (1857), II. 236. Rachel’s acting … enchained me with interest, and thrilled me with horror.
1863. Burton, Bk.-Hunter, 48. In a noble library the visitor is enchained to reverence and courtesy by the genius of the place.
† c. intr. for refl. To become closely united. Obs.
c. 1400. Test. Love, II. (1560), 285/2. Dignitie with honour, and reverence, causen harts to encheinen.
† 3. To link together as in a chain. Obs.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (1869), 33. One contracts and enchaines his words.
1768. Bp. Warburton, Lett. Eminent Divine (1809), 422. The parts of the argument are so enchained with one another that [etc.].
Hence Enchained ppl. a.
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Ivstine’s Hist., 297. He … filled not as his Father the prisons with enchained Citizens.
