gatekeep
/ˈɡeɪt.kiːp/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.41 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To limit (sometimes manipulatively, rather than directly) how much of a role another party, often a spouse, has in some task.
Transitive verb
verb
To limit another party's participation in a collective identity or an activity, usually due to undue pettiness, resentment, or overprotectiveness.
Transitive verb
noun
A gatekeeper.
Example Sentences
- "Similar remarks had passed the cherry-stained lips a hundred times, and this one was brought on just after the gatekeep at the north postern of Bull Joy had slyly given the wink behind "her husband's" broad back."
- "A gentleman stopped his horse at a toll-gate and not seeing the gatekeep went into the house."
- "Though there was a moment of anxiety, a generous bribe persuaded the gatekeep to overlook their expired passports and they rode into Calais."
- "“At least those doxies don't fancy themselves the gatekeeps of God, like the priest.” Margit said."