An archaic or rare form meaning to check, stop, or limit something.
Related to the Middle English word 'stint' (to stop or limit), with the prefix 'a-' added for emphasis. The 'a-' prefix in Old and Middle English was used to intensify or modify verbs.
This word is like a linguistic fossil—'stint' is still common, but 'astint' shows how English once loved adding little prefix particles to verbs for extra flavor.
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