pen up

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[acob] 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.