Bīnd1, v. t.
[imp. BOUND; p. p. BOUND, formerly BOUNDEN; p. pr. & vb. n. BINDING.] [A-S. bindan, gebindan, perfect tense band, bundon, p. p. bunden, Goth. bindan, gabindan, D. & Ger. binden, Dan. binde, Sw. & Icel. binda, Skr. bandh.]
Sense 1. To tie together, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, &c.; as, to bind grain; to bind a captive; — sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound.
Sense 2. In a more general sense, to confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun; frost binds the earth, or the streams. “He bindeth the floods from overflowing.” Job xxviii. 11.
Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years. Luke xiii. 16.
Sense 3. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action; as, certain drugs or articles of food bind the bowels.
Sense 4. To protect or strengthen by a band or border, as the edge of a carpet or garment, or a wheel by a tire.
Sense 5. To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to bind a book.
Sense 6. (Fig.) To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other.
Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton.
Sense 7. To place under legal obligation to serve; as, to bind an apprentice; — sometimes with out; as, bound out to service.
To bind over, to oblige by bond to appear at a court. — To bind to, to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife. — To bind up in, to cause to be wholly engrossed with; to connect intimately with; to absorb in.