Bind Meaning
Bind Definition & Usage
To tie or fasten something securely, often using ropes, cords, or other materials.
Examples
- "She used a thick rope to bind the package tightly before shipping it."
- "The workers bound the materials together to ensure they wouldn't scatter during transportation."
- "He bound the books with a leather strap to keep them together on the shelf."
- "After the storm, they had to bind the tree branches to prevent them from falling."
- "The prisoner’s hands were bound with strong cuffs to prevent escape."
To bind can also mean to unite or bring together people, groups, or ideas.
Examples
- "The shared experience of loss bound the community together in ways words couldn't describe."
- "Her passion for the project bound the team with a sense of purpose and unity."
- "The novel's deep themes of love and betrayal bound the characters in a tragic cycle."
- "Their shared goals bound them in a partnership that lasted over a decade."
- "The laws of the country bind its citizens, ensuring equality and justice."
To impose obligations or legal constraints upon someone or something.
Examples
- "The contract binds the two parties to uphold their agreement for five years."
- "These regulations bind all employees, regardless of position."
- "By signing the agreement, you bind yourself to the terms outlined in the document."
- "The treaty binds both countries to work toward mutual goals of peace."
- "The court ruling binds the defendant to pay restitution to the victims."
Cultural Context
The word 'bind' comes from Old English 'bindan,' meaning to tie or fasten. Its uses have evolved over time from physical binding to more abstract concepts like legal and social obligations. In literature and common speech, the word often conveys a sense of restriction or connection.
The Binding Promise
Story
The Binding Promise
It was a quiet afternoon when Amelia stood in front of the old wooden table, the yellowed pages of a letter spread out in front of her. The letter, a promise made long ago, was more than just words on paper. It was a binding commitment, one she could not escape from. Her grandmother had always said that a promise was like a knot — once tied, it couldn't easily be undone. Amelia ran her fingers over the ink, feeling the weight of the words. She had no choice but to honor it. But the thought of the consequences made her heart race. The promise had bound her to return to the family farm, to take care of it when her parents had passed. For years, she'd put off the inevitable, believing that time would somehow free her from the obligation. Now, here she was, standing at the doorstep of a place she'd once vowed to leave forever. She walked through the overgrown fields, her boots sinking slightly into the damp soil. The land was bound to the past, to memories of days spent in the sun with her siblings. Each step felt like she was tying herself tighter to those moments, moments she had outgrown. Yet, as she reached the old barn, she saw it — a rope, thick and strong, wrapped around a fallen branch, holding it up just enough so that it wouldn't fall further. 'Like this branch,' she thought to herself, 'I'm bound to something I can't escape.' She paused, watching the sunlight flicker through the trees. But then, an idea struck her. Maybe binding wasn't always about being trapped. Maybe it was about holding something together, keeping it intact. And perhaps, by honoring the promise, she'd be able to build something new from the pieces of her past. With a deep breath, Amelia made her way back inside. The promise, the land, the memories — they were all part of the same binding force that had shaped her life. But now, she would choose to bind herself to a future of her own making.
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