† coˈarct, v. Obs.
Forms: 5–6 coart(e, 5–7 cohart(e, 6–9 coarct.
[ad. L. coarct-āre (properly -artāre) to press together, contract, confine, also to compel, constrain, f. co- + artāre to press close, contract, f. artus confined. See art v.1, and cf. F. coärcter (in Palsgr. and Cotgr.).]
1. trans. To press or draw together; to compress, constrict, contract, tighten.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 1131 With paper best and leest are thai coarted. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde ii. ii. 52 Alome..or any such thynges which do coarct and constrayne. Ibid., The passage..[is] coarcted and made narrower then [it] wolde otherwise be. 1604 T. Wright Pass. i. vi. 24 In all Passions the heart is dilated or coarcted. |
2. To confine or restrict the action of (a person); to constrain, coerce. [So in (legal) Latin = cogo.]
| c 1400 Test. Love i. (1560) 277 b/2 Thilke persons..not coarted by paining dures openly knowledgeden. c 1430 Lydg. Bochas iii. i. (1554) 70 b, Sith no lawe thy person may coarte. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 28 §5 Persons of full age..not unlaufully coarcted. 1610 Donne Pseudo-martyr 301 He is so farre from coarcting the Popes power, that, etc. 1646 Gaule Cases Consc. 133 Any such Art whereby himself might be coarcted or constrained. 1819 H. Busk Vestriad iii. 537 Coarcted by your mancipating spell. |
b. Const. to or inf.
| 1420 [see below]. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 68/1 Saul said I am coarted therto. c 1640 J. Smyth Lives Berkeleys (1883) II. 65 The said Countesse compelled and coharted them to enseale certaine Indentures. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 178 If a man coarcts himself to the Extremity of an Act. |
3. To confine within narrow limits; fig. to restrict.
| 1522 Skelton Why not to Court 438 That the kynges minde By hym is subverted And so streatly coarted In credensyng his tales. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark vii. 52 Coarcted within the very narrow limites of Jewry. 1628 Coke On Litt. 22 a, Of all the estates taile most coarcted or restrained that I finde in our bookes. |
4. To control, restrain, repress.
| 1557 Paynel Barclay's Jugurth 47 b, He used meruelouse good maner in coartyng the same faultes. |
b. to coart of: to restrain from.
| 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. xxv, For she will not be guided by no reyne To be coarted of her dewe righte. |
Hence coˈarcted, coarct, (-art), ppl. a., coˈarcting vbl. n.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 174 That so thai be coart to swymme in sape, Enclude hem. 14.. tr. T. à Kempis' Consol. iii. vi, Loue weried is not wery, and loue arted is not coarted. 1494 Fabyan vii. 567 That no lorde..shuld..lay for his excuse any constraynt or coartynge of his prynce. 1530 Palsgr. 206/2 Coartyng, efforcement. 1631 Quarles Div. Poems, Samson (1717) 273 Their haste could give no vent To their coarcted thoughts. |