rienda

rienda

Old Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from early Medieval Latin retina (via */ˈrɛd(e)na/, with metathesis of /dn/, compare Old Spanish candado), ultimately from Latin retinēre (“hold back, restrain”). Classical Latin retinācula (“reins”) (plural, much more common than singular retināculum) may have been reinterpreted as feminine singular in spoken Latin, then undergoing back-formation creating the attested early medieval Latin retina. Compare Portuguese rédea, Catalan regna.

Noun

rienda f

1. rein(s) (of a horse)
   • ca. 1300-1325, anonymous, Cuento muy fermoso de Otas de Roma , (ed. by Herbert L. Baird, Jr., 1976, Madrid: Real Academia Española):

     Desý tomó el cavallo por la rienda, que era muy bueno, e fuélo dar a Esmeré. E Esmeré cavalgó luego e tóvogelo en muy grant merçet, e aguyjó por ese canpo. Grant pavor ovieron griegos quando lo vieron a cavallo.

     Desy took the horse by its reins, as it was very good, and went to give it to Esmere. And Esmere mounted it right away, thanking him greatly, and rode it through the field. The Greeks were in great fear when they saw him on a horse.

   • 1498, anonymous, Crónica del Çid Ruy Díaz chap. 66, (ed. by Nieves Baranda, 1995, Madrid: Turner Libros):

     E desque el cuerpo del Cid dél descavalgaron, nunca ombre lo cavalgó y siempre lo llevavan al agua por la rienda.

     And since the body of the Cid was unmounted [from the horse], no one ever rode it again, taking it to water by the reins [and bridle].

Usage notes

Often used in the singular, unlike its modern descendant.

Descendants

• Spanish: rienda

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Spanish

Etymology

From Old Spanish rienda (“reins”, often singular), inherited from early Medieval Latin retina (via */ˈrɛd(e)na/, with metathesis of /dn/, compare Spanish candado), ultimately from Latin retinēre (“hold back, restrain”). Classical Latin retinācula (“reins”) (plural, much more common than singular retināculum) may have been reinterpreted as feminine singular in spoken Latin, then undergoing back-formation creating the attested early medieval Latin retina. Compare Portuguese rédea, Catalan regna.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈrjenda/ [ˈrjẽn̪.d̪a]
• Rhymes: -enda
• Syllabification: rien‧da

Noun

rienda f (plural riendas)

1. (chiefly in the plural) rein (strap or rope attached to a bridle or bit and used to control an animal, especially a horse)

   Toma las riendas del caballo y lárgate. ― Take the reins of the horse, and go away.

2. (plural only) control, direction

   Fue así que lograron tomar las riendas de la compañía. ― Thus they managed to take control of the company.

Further reading

• “rienda”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014