1. Impaired in movement: This is the most common meaning. It means to move with difficulty, often due to an injury or disability.
* Example: "The horse hobbled after it was injured in the race."
2. To restrict movement: This meaning is often used figuratively to describe someone or something whose ability to move or function is limited.
* Example: "The new regulations hobbled the company's ability to expand."
3. To tie the legs of an animal: This is an older meaning, referring to the practice of tying the legs of an animal to prevent it from running away.
* Example: "The cowboys hobbled the horses to keep them from wandering."
4. To make something less effective: This is another figurative meaning, suggesting that something has been weakened or made less powerful.
* Example: "The new law hobbled the effectiveness of the police department."
To understand the specific meaning of "hobbled" in a sentence, it's important to consider the context and the subject being discussed.