ob-stringo, strinxi, strictum, 3, v. a.
I To bind to or about; to bind, tie , or fasten up (rare): follem obstringit ob gulam, Plaut. Aul. 2, 4, 23: quom ego Amphitruonem collo hinc obstricto traham, id. Am. 3, 2, 72: cervice obstrictā, Juv. 10, 88: tauros aratro, to yoke , Val. Fl. 7, 602.—
II To bind, bind up, close up by binding .
1 Lit. (rare): laqueo collum, Plaut. Aul. 1, 2, 12. —
2 Transf.
α To shut in, confine : ventos, Hor. C. 1, 3, 4: viminibus, Col. 4, 29.—
β To hold together by : purpurea vestis ingentibus obstricta gemmis, in which precious stones were the fastenings , Flor. 4, 11, 3.—
III Trop., to bind, tie, fetter, hamper; to oblige, lay under obligation (the class. signif. of the word; syn.: obligo, devincio): donis aliquem obstringere, Cic. Clu. 66, 190: civitatem jurejurando, Caes. B. G. 1, 31: legibus, Cic. Inv. 2, 45, 132: foedere, id. Pis. 13, 29: aliquem aere alieno, to bring into debt , id. Fam. 11, 10, 5: jurejurando, to bind by an oath , Tac. A. 1, 14: animam suam, Vulg. Num. 30, 9: quam plurimas civitates suo sibi beneficio habere obstrictas volebat, bound, under obligation , Caes. B. G. 1, 9: Atticum officiis, Cic. Fam. 3, 18, 2: qui se tot sceleribus obstrinxerit, has been guilty of so many crimes , Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 8: se parricidio, to commit, perpetrate , id. Phil. 11, 12, 29: se perjurio, Liv. 26, 48: aliquem conscientiā, to bind by privity, by participation , Tac. H. 4, 55: obstringi conscientiā tanti sceleris, ne, etc., to be hindered by the sense of so great a crime, from , etc., Liv. 4, 17, 5: aliquem societate scelerum, Tac. A. 4, 57: fidem suam alicui, to pledge one's word, to promise positively , Plin. 7, 1, 1, § 8; Plin. Ep. 4, 13, 11; cf. Just. 2, 15, 14.—Mid.: qui alienum ... sustulit, furti obstringitur, makes himself guilty, becomes guilty , Sabin. ap. Gell. 11, 18, 21: eidem sceleri obstrictus est, Lact. 3, 18, 6.
VIII —Hence, obstrictus , a, um, P. a.; according to III., bound, obliged .— Comp. : obstrictior Debitor, Paul. Nol. Nat. Felic. 9, 145.
IX —Hence, obstrictē , adv.; comp. : obstrictius, more stringently , Aug. Civ. Dei, 2, 24.