English Lexicon

Manacle

/ˈmæn.ə.kəl/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #15000 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A metal band or shackle for fastening someone's hands or ankles.

    "The prisoner was led away in manacles, a reminder of his past crimes."
  2. 2

    Something that confines or restrains.

    "The manacles of tradition can sometimes hinder progress."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'manacle' originates from the Latin 'manicula', a diminutive of 'manus' meaning 'hand'. It evolved through Old French 'manacle', reflecting the historical use of restraints on hands, particularly in the context of imprisonment and punishment.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Manacle"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Manacle"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Manacle" Synonym Map