Bound or restrained with or as if with chains; constrained or restricted in movement or freedom.
Past tense and past participle of enchain, combining en- + chain + -ed. This form became common in literature from the 16th century onward to describe both literal and figurative imprisonment.
When poets wrote about lovers being 'enchained' to duty or honor, they were using a word that technically means 'in chains' but had become so metaphorical that readers understood emotional bondage—it shows how language lets us talk about invisible things using physical ones.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.