hinder

hinder

hinder¹ [hin′dər]

vt.

[ME hindren < OE hindrian, lit., to keep or hold back (akin to Ger hindern) < base of HINDER²]

1. to keep back; restrain; get in the way of; prevent; stop

2. to make difficult for; thwart; impede; frustrate

vi.

to delay action; be a hindrance

SYN.- HINDER¹ implies a holding back of something about to begin and connotes a thwarting of progress [hindered by a lack of education ]; OBSTRUCT implies a retarding of passage or progress by placing obstacles in the way [to obstruct the passage of a bill by a filibuster ]; BLOCK implies the complete, but not necessarily permanent, obstruction of a passage or progress [the road was blocked by a landslide ]; IMPEDE suggests a slowing up of movement or progress by interfering with the normal action [tight garters impede the circulation of the blood ]; BAR¹ implies an obstructing as if by means of a barrier [he was barred from the club ] -ANT. ADVANCE, FURTHER

hinder² [hīn′dər]

adj.

[ME hindre < OE adv. hinder, back, behind (akin to Ger prep. hinter, behind) < ? base of he (see HE¹) + compar. suffix -der, akin to Gr -tero-, Sans -tara-: the word is now felt as compar. of HIND¹]

Now Rare hind; rear; posterior