entrammel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “entrammel” mean?
To fetter, hamper, or restrict.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To fetter, hamper, or restrict; to put or become entangled in or as if in trammels (restraining shackles).
To confine, restrain, or obstruct someone's freedom, progress, or ability to act; to trap or ensnare in a figurative sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English. Both varieties treat it as a rare, literary term.
Connotations
Literary, archaic, or highly formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both spoken and written English in both varieties, slightly more likely to be encountered in older literary texts or deliberate, stylized prose.
Grammar
How to Use “entrammel” in a Sentence
[Subject] entrammel [Object][Object] be/become entrammeled by/in [Agent/Cause]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “entrammel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She refused to be entrammeled by the outdated conventions of her society.
- The new regulations threatened to entrammel scientific inquiry.
American English
- He felt entrammeled by the endless bureaucracy of the corporation.
- Laws should protect citizens, not entrammel their basic liberties.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form derived from 'entrammel'.
American English
- No standard adverbial form derived from 'entrammel'.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival form; 'entrammeled' is the past participle used adjectivally.
American English
- No standard adjectival form; 'entrammeled' is the past participle used adjectivally.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Highly unlikely. Would only appear in metaphorical, philosophical writing about business constraints.
Academic
Possible in literary criticism, philosophy, or historical texts discussing freedom and constraint.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “entrammel”
- Using it as an intransitive verb (*'He entrammeled.'). It requires an object.
- Misspelling as 'entramel' or 'entramel'.
- Confusing it with 'enthrall' (to captivate).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, formal, and literary word. You are unlikely to encounter it in everyday speech or modern writing, except in deliberately archaic or highly stylised contexts.
'Trammel' (verb) means to restrict or hamper. 'Entrammel' is synonymous but less common and often carries a slightly more figurative or intensive sense of being ensnared or fettered.
Almost never. Its core meaning is negative, relating to restriction and loss of freedom. It would be highly unusual to use it positively.
It is exclusively a transitive verb (e.g., 'X entrammels Y'). The past participle 'entrammeled' (or 'entrammelled' in UK spelling) can function as an adjective (e.g., 'an entrammeled spirit').
To fetter, hamper, or restrict.
Entrammel is usually formal, literary in register.
Entrammel: in British English it is pronounced /ɪnˈtræm(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɪnˈtræməl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms use this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ENTRAP + HAMMEL (like 'hamper' + 'camel'): you trap a camel in a net (trammel), thus RESTRICTING it.
Conceptual Metaphor
FREEDOM IS UNRESTRICTED MOVEMENT / RESTRICTION IS BEING TIED OR TRAPPED.
Practice
Quiz
What is the closest synonym for 'entrammel' in this context: 'The contract was designed to entrammel the company, preventing any future expansion.'?