pen up

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See also: penup

English

Verb

pen up (third-person singular simple present pens up, present participle penning up, simple past and past participle penned up or (archaic) pent up)

  1. To enclose (animals) in a pen.
  2. To enclose as if in a pen.
    • 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. , London: J Tonson, , published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
      Pent up in Utica he vainly forms
      A poor Epitome of Roman Greatneſs,
      And, cover’d with Numidian Guards, directs
      A feeble Army, and an empty Senate,
      Remnants of mighty Battels fought in vain.