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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Control

Cŏn-trŏl’, n.

noun

n. [Fr. contrôle, a counter register, contracted from contre-rôle, from contre, against, and rôle, roll, catalogue, Pr. rolle, rolle, It. rullo, rotolo, from Lat. rotulus, equivalent to rotula, a little wheel, L. Lat. roll, diminutive of rota, wheel.]

Sense 1. A book, register, or account, kept to correct or check another account or register; a counter register. [Obs.] Johnson.

Sense 2. That which serves to check, restrain, or hinder; restraint. “Speak without control.” Dryden.

Sense 3. Power or authority to check or restrain; restraining influence; command; superintendence.

Men of superior wealth and power, above the control of the mere officers of justice. Hallam.

Synonyms—Direction; command; check; restraint. See DIRECTION.

Con-trōl′, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. CONTROLLED; p. pr. & vb. n. CONTROLLING.] [Fr. contrôler, from contrôle. See supra.] [Formerly written compdrol and controul.]

  1. To check by a counter register or double account; to prove by counter statements. [Obs.] “This report was controlled to be false.” Fuller.
  2. To exercise a restraining influence over; to check; to restrain; to govern; to overpower; to counteract; to confute.

Give me a staff of honor for mine age, But not a scepter to control the world. Shak. I feel my virtue struggling in my soul; But stronger passion does its power control. Dryden. Syn.—To restrain; rule; govern; direct; check; curb; overpower; counteract.