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.
(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.—Hence, obstrictus , a, um, P. a.; according to III., bound, obliged.—Comp.: “obstrictior Debitor,” Paul. Nol. Nat. Felic. 9, 145.—Hence, obstrictē , adv.; comp.: obstrictius, more stringently, Aug. Civ. Dei, 2, 24.
