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rain

rein

noun REN Rare
Travel & Places Transportation

Origin: Old French rene, from Latin retinere (to hold back)

Usage Note

Rêne is the strap used to guide a horse and is most often used in the plural, les rênes. It appears figuratively in prendre les rênes ('to take the reins', i.e. take control). Do not confuse it with reine ('queen') or renne ('reindeer'), which sound similar.

Examples

"Elle tira sur les rênes pour arrêter le cheval."

Natural Translation

She pulled on the reins to stop the horse.

Literal Translation

She pulled on the reins to stop the horse.

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