n. [ OE. bounde, bunne, OF. bonne, bonde, bodne, F. borne, fr. LL. bodina, bodena, bonna; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Arm. bonn boundary, limit, and boden, bod, a tuft or cluster of trees, by which a boundary or limit could be marked. Cf. Bourne. ] The external or limiting line, either real or imaginary, of any object or space; that which limits or restrains, or within which something is limited or restrained; limit; confine; extent; boundary. [ 1913 Webster ]
He hath compassed the waters with bounds. Job xxvi. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]
On earth's remotest bounds. Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]
And mete the bounds of hate and love. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]
To keep within bounds,
a. [ Past p. of OE. bounen to prepare, fr. boun ready, prepared, fr. Icel. būinn, p. p. of būa to dwell, prepare; akin to E. boor and bower. See Bond, a., and cf. Busk, v. ] Ready or intending to go; on the way toward; going; -- with to or for, or with an adverb of motion;
v. t.
Where full measure only bounds excess. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Phlegethon . . .
Whose fiery flood the burning empire bounds. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. [ F. bondir to leap, OF. bondir, bundir, to leap, resound, fr. L. bombitare to buzz, hum, fr. bombus a humming, buzzing. See Bomb. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
And the waves bound beneath me as a steed
That knows his rider. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n.
A bound of graceful hardihood. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
imp. & p. p. of Bind. [ 1913 Webster ]
p. p. & a.
☞ Used also in composition; as, icebound, windbound, hidebound, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
Bound bailiff (Eng. Law),
Bound up in,
n.;
But still his native country lies
Beyond the boundaries of the skies. N. Cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]
That bright and tranquil stream, the boundary of Louth and Meath. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
Sensation and reflection are the boundaries of our thoughts. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
adj.