Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BIND, v.t. [pret. bound; pp. bound, and obs. bounden. Sax. bindan, gebindan, pret. band, bund, or bunden; Goth. bindan, gabindan; D. binden, verbinden; Ger. the same; Sw. binda, förbinda; Dan. binder, to bind, and bind, a band; also baand, a band; Hindu, bandna; Gypsy, bandopen; Pers. بَنْدَنْ bandan, and بَنْديدَنْ bandidan, to bind; the former signifies also, to apply, to bend the mind; and the latter, to shut, close, make fast. The sense is, to strain.]

1. To tie together, or confine with a cord, or any thing that is flexible; to fasten as with a band, fillet or ligature.
2. To gird, inwrap or involve; to confine by a wrapper, cover or bandage; sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound.
3. To confine or restrain, as with a chain, fetters or cord; as, bind him hand and foot.
4. To restrain in any manner. He bindeth the floods from overflowing. – Job xxviii.
5. To oblige by a promise, vow, stipulation, covenant, law, duty or any other moral tie; to engage; as, we are bound by the laws of kindness, of nature, of a state, &c. If a man shall swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond. – Numbers xxx.
6. To confirm or ratify. Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. – Matth. xvi.
7. To distress, trouble, or confine by infirmity. Whom Satan hath bound these eighteen years. – Luke xiii.
8. To constrain by a powerful influence or persuasion. I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem. – Acts xx.
9. To restrain the natural discharges of the bowels; to make costive; as, certain kinds of food bind the body or bowels.
10. To form a border; to fasten with a band, ribin, or any thing that strengthens the edges; as, to bind a garment or carpet.
11. To cover with leather or any thing firm; to sew together and cover; as, to bind a book.
12. To cover or secure by a band; as, to bind a wheel with tire.
13. To oblige to serve, by contract; as, to bind an apprentice; often with out; as, to bind out a servant.
14. To make hard or firm; as, certain substances bind the earth. The uses of this word are too various and numerous to be reduced to exact definitions. To bind to is to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife. To bind over is to oblige by bond to appear at a court.