straitenv.
/ˈstreɪt(ə)n/ 1. in extended use.1638 J. Ford Fancies iv. 49 We shall flourish..and no more be streightend Within the limits of an emptie patience.† b. To close the ranks of (an army). Obsolete.† c. to straiten one's hand: to become niggardly. Obsolete.† d. Phrase, to straiten (a person's) quarters. (Cf. sense 4b) Obsolete.
a. transitive. To render strait or narrow; to narrow, contract (an opening, a passage, road, stream, etc.). Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > lack of breadth or narrowness > make narrow [verb (transitive)]
narrowa1400
strait1421
straiten1552
enstrait1581
angustate1615
nip1850
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Streyghten or make narrow, angusto.
1603 J. Stow Suruay of London (new ed.) 84 The number of..carts and coatches, more then hath beene accustomed, the streetes and lanes being streightned, must needes be daungerous.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. xviii. 176 The river being there straightened, and forced betwixt two high steepe rockes: the water falles directly downe.
1628 E. Coke 1st Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. 3 An ancient grant..that a way leading to their common should not be streightened.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall (1682) xxiii. 92 Into the latter [the Philosophical egg] we put a..rod of solid glass to straiten the Cavity of the neck by almost filling it up.
1683 W. Salmon Doron Medicum i. 322 [This] straitens the Pores and Passages of the Body.
1695 in Hertford Sessions Rolls (1905) I. 420 [Enclosing part of a highway] by which means the said highway is much straightened.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 43 Trees on the Sides, coming to..grow thicker, will in Time..streighten a Walk very considerably.
1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 51 The Funnel..shou'd have several divisions to cut the Wind. Some have indeed streighten'd this Passage.
c1804 J. Austen Watsons in J. E. Austen Leigh Mem. Jane Austen (1871) 321 In passing through the latter, where the passage was straitened by tables, Mrs. Edwards and her party were for a few moments hemmed in.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. II. 558 The throat is rough and straightened from the second day of the eruption.
1895 W. M. F. Petrie Egypt. Tales 1st Ser. 62 The tow-path..was straitened..: on the one side of it was the water, and on the other side of it grew his corn.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military operations > distribution of troops > formation > form (line, column, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > close up (ranks or files) > close ranks of (army)
straiten1590
1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 3 b That a squadron of armed men..being readie to encounter with another squadron,.. ought to streighten and close themselues by frunt and flanckes.
a1609 F. Vere Commentaries (1657) 95 The water now grew very high, so as both we and they were forced to streighten our front.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > retaining > niggardliness or meanness > be niggardly or mean [verb (intransitive)] > become niggardly
to straiten one's hand1622
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 251 My friends..had already cast mee off, streightning more and more their hand towards mee.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > confinement > confine [verb (intransitive)]
to straiten (a person's) quarters1703
1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vi. 97 The winning of Cirencester..which..being upon the edge of Wilt-shire, Berk-shire, and Oxford-shire, shrewdly streighten'd the King's Quarters.
1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero II. x. 395 Distressing him by straitening his quarters.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall (1787) III. xxx. 150 The Barbarian was gradually invested, on every side, by the troops of the West..; his quarters were straightened; his convoys were intercepted.
2. intransitive. To become narrow, to narrow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > lack of breadth or narrowness > become narrow [verb (intransitive)]
narrowOE
straita1552
straiten1601
stripe1632
to neck down1931
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. v. xxxii. 114 Being past this gulfe, the sea beginneth to streighten again, and the land to meet neere together.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey ii. 117 This arme of the Nile is as broad at Rosetta as Thames about Tilbury, streightning by little and little.
1731 T. Gordon tr. Tacitus Agricola in Wks. II. 360 But a tract of territory huge and unmeasurable stretches forward to the uttermost shore, and straightning by degrees, terminates like a wedge.
1823 J. Thacher Mil. Jrnl. 96 We behold Lake Champlain widening and straitening as banks and clifts project into its channel.
1853 G. J. Cayley Las Alforjas II. 28 The valley..shortly after this began to straiten, till it came at last to so narrow a gorge..that [etc.].
a. transitive. To tighten (a knot, cord, bonds). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > condition of being fast bound or firmly fixed > make fast [verb (transitive)] > tighten (bands, cords, knots, nuts)
strainc1300
restrainc1425
strait1557
straiten1647
jam1726
tighten1727
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 53 You have much streightned that knot of love which hath bin long tied between us.
1659 J. Milton Treat. Civil Power 58 As well may he loos'n that which God hath strait'nd, or strait'n that which God hath loos'nd, as [etc.].
1741 W. Oldys et al. Betterton's Hist. Eng. Stage v. 66 Shewing the Teeth, and straitening the Lips on them, shews Indignation and Anger.
1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 29 Morality..Gasps, as they straiten at each end the Cord.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > make more strict or severe [verb (transitive)]
exasperate1597
sharpen1709
straiten1751
tighten1897
1751 H. Walpole Let. to H. Mann 1 May On this his confinement was straitened.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison III. vi. 44 Her mother's wickedness giving occasion the more to streighten her education.
4.
a. To confine in or force into a narrow space; to hem in closely. Also with in. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > [verb (transitive)] > give insufficient room to
straitc1420
straiten1576
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > confinement > confine [verb (transitive)] > confine in a narrow space
threnga1154
thringc1250
straitc1420
estrait1529
straiten1576
stew1590
estraitena1610
crowdc1632
cramp1683
to box in1845
poke1860
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 79 Vortimer..so streightned the Saxons in this Ile,..that for a colour they sent Vortiger to treate with him of peace.
?1606 M. Drayton Man in Moone in Poemes sig. H3 Wherin you might view A sea that somwhat straytned by the land, Two furious tydes raise their ambitious hand One gainst the other.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 216 They seemed..to be like vnto straw, which..if you restraine and straiten it,..it will shoot it selfe out.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §115 Waters, when they beat vpon the Shore, or are straitned (as in the falls of Bridges;)..giue a Roaring Noise.
1637–38 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 119 Ye wind could not there be straightned by Clare Hall, wch scarce reacheth to ye fourth part of yt height.
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. 123 The chiefest mountains which straighten in this City and valley are two.
1652 M. Nedham tr. J. Selden Of Dominion of Sea 172 An In-land Sea, which in som places beeing streightned with Land on every side, exceed's not the breadth even of a River.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 776 So thick the aerie crowd Swarm'd and were straitn'd . View more context for this quotation
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) ii. vi. 246 The Bodies of the Damned..shall be so straitned and crowded together in that Infernal Dungeon.
1698 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. IV. 33 The Heavenly Plant is too much streightned and bound up to thrive, and cannot shoot forth its Branches very far.
1863 A. P. Stanley Lect. Jewish Church I. xvi. 362 The small tribe of Dan, already straitened between the mountains and the sea.
b. said of a hostile army.
ΚΠ
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 944 Who..with all speed compassed in his enemies, and straightning them on both sides, tooke some of them aliue,..and [etc.].
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 323 If this be our condition, thus to dwell In narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe. View more context for this quotation
1837 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. VI. l. 737 Finding himself daily more closely straitened by the insurgents [he] was obliged to retire.
5. † b. To deprive partially, abridge of (a possession or privilege). Obsolete.† c. To restrict from doing something. Obsolete.† d. To bind stringently. Obsolete.
a. To narrow or restrict the freedom, power, or privileges of (a person). archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > restriction of free action > restrict in free action [verb (transitive)]
bindc1200
hamper?a1366
chain1377
coarctc1400
prison?a1425
tether?a1505
fetter1526
imprisona1533
strait1533
swaddle1539
measure1560
shacklea1568
to tie up1570
manacle1577
straitena1586
hopple1586
immew16..
scant1600
cabina1616
criba1616
trammela1616
copse1617
cramp1625
cloister1627
incarcerate1640
hidebind1642
strait-lace1662
perstringe1679
hough-band1688
cabin1780
pin1795
strait jacket1814
peg1832
befetter1837
to tie the hands of1866
corset1935
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restriction or limitation > restrict or limit [verb (transitive)] > in free action
bind971
hamper?a1366
chain1377
coarctc1400
prison?a1425
tether?a1505
fetter1526
imprisona1533
strait1533
swaddle1539
measure1560
shacklea1568
to tie up1570
manacle1577
straitena1586
hopple1586
immew16..
scant1600
cabina1616
criba1616
trammela1616
copse1617
cramp1625
cloister1627
incarcerate1640
hidebind1642
to box up1659
strait-lace1662
perstringe1679
hough-band1688
cabin1780
pin1795
strait jacket1814
peg1832
befetter1837
to tie the hands of1866
hog-tie1924
corset1935
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. iv. sig. C7v Their [sc. your daughters'] education by your fatherly care, hath beene hetherto such, as hath beene most fit to restraine all euill:..not greeuing them for want of wel-ruled libertie. Now to fall to a sodain straightning them, what can it doo but argue suspition..?
1611 Bible (King James) Micah ii. 7 Is the Spirit of the Lord straitned [margin. or, shortened] ? View more context for this quotation
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 28 The liberty of a Christian..is then infringed; when the Conscience is bound, and streitned, by imposing vpon it an opinion of doctrinall Necessity.
a1653 H. Binning Sinners Sanctuary xiv, in Wks. (1735) 233 Was it the Satisfaction of his Justice that straitned him, and put a Necessity of this upon him?
1701 D. Hume Diary Parl. Scotl. (Bannatyne Club) 52 What was moved seemed to him to straiten the King... So this was let fall.
1858 J. Martineau Stud. Christianity 108 Our spirit..is so straitened by the bands of sin..that there is no freedom.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > loss > taking away > take away [verb (transitive)] > deprive (of) > partially
straiten1523
to curtail (a person, etc.) of1581
to cut short1592
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng viii. f. 8v And also the lordes haue enclosed a great parte of their waste groundes and streytened their tenauntes of their commyns therin.
1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) (Camden) 114 The peticioner to be called in and herde. Yf he fynde himselfe streightened of his proofes for not beinge herde, then to gyve him longer daye.
1650 J. Howell Addit. Lett. xv. 27 in Epistolæ Ho-elianæ (ed. 2) The King is streightned of that liberty he formerly had in the Isle of Wight.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > specifically from doing something
conclude1382
restrain1384
refraina1398
keepa1400
to coart of1430
revokec1450
stop1488
contain1523
retract1548
stay1560
retire1567
straiten1622
confine1651
obligec1661
1622 Relation Eng. Plantation Plimoth, New Eng. 65 Some who out of doubt in tendernesse of conscience..are straitned and doe straiten others, from going to forraine plantations.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > compel [verb (transitive)] > to perform or adhere to
hold971
tiec1200
exact1564
enforce1647
confine1651
straiten1652
to tie down1692
to nail down1859
1652 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi Exact Hist. Late Revol. Naples (new ed.) ii. 129 While thus in the Countrey there was a course taken to straiten the people to the Obedience of his Majesty, there was no time lost in Naples.
6. To narrow or restrict in range, scope, or amount.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
anitherOE
wanzelOE
lessc1225
slakea1300
littenc1300
aslakec1314
adminisha1325
allayc1330
settle1338
low1340
minisha1382
reprovea1382
abatea1398
rebatea1398
subtlea1398
alaskia1400
forlyten?a1400
imminish14..
lessenc1410
diminish1417
repress?a1425
assuagec1430
scarcec1440
small1440
underslakec1440
alessa1450
debate?c1450
batec1460
decreasec1470
appetisse1474
alow1494
mince1499
perswage?1504
remita1513
inless?1521
attenuate1530
weaken1530
defray1532
mitigate1532
minorate1534
narrow?1548
diminuec1550
extenuate1555
amain1578
exolve1578
base1581
dejecta1586
amoinder1588
faint1598
qualify1604
contract1605
to pull down1607
shrivel1609
to take down1610
disaugment1611
impoverish1611
shrink1628
decoct1629
persway1631
unflame1635
straiten1645
depress1647
reduce1649
detract1654
minuate1657
alloy1661
lower?1662
sinka1684
retreat1690
nip1785
to drive down1840
minify1866
to knock down1867
to damp down1869
scale1887
mute1891
clip1938
to roll back1942
to cut back1943
downscale1945
downrate1958
slim1963
downshift1972
1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (ed. 2) 46 Because else the grace of God to his people is now..lessened and straitned more then before.
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule of Holy Living (1676) iv. §7. 237 Let not young beginners in Religion..straiten their liberty by vows of long continuance.
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheism in Coll. Philos. Writings (1712) ii. ix. 67 The reason why Birds are Oviparous..but do not bring forth their young alive, is..that neither the Birds of prey, the Serpent nor the Fowler, should streighten their generations too much.
1708 J. Addison Present State War 8 We may only add, that the same Causes which streighten the British Commerce, will naturally enlarge the French.
1709 T. Robinson Vindic. Mosaick Syst. 79 in Ess. Nat. Hist. Westmorland & Cumberland The Divine Providence..so streightens their Increase, that they [Tigers] may not be too offensive and destructive, either of Man or Beast.
1778 W. Cookworthy & T. Hartley in tr. E. Swedenborg Treat. Heaven & Hell Pref. p. xlviii God forbid that we should go about to straiten that mercy towards others (though even devils), to which the very best of us stand indebted.
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 234 As woodbine weds the plant within her reach,..But does a mischief while she lends a grace, Strait'ning its growth by such a strict embrace.
1801 S. Turner Hist. Anglo-Saxons II. iv. vi. 229 A vigilant armed peasantry..secured the property of the country, and straightened the supplies of the invader.
1855 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity IV. ix. ii. 38 They declared that they had no design to straiten the rights of the holy see.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. 34 The conquest of the shores of the Bosphorus..would straiten the range of England's authority in the world.
1868 J. E. T. Rogers Man. Polit. Econ. xv. 207 It is supposed, and generally with reason,..that profits must fall, and so business must be straitened.
1871 J. Morley Carlyle in Crit. Misc. (1878) 1st Ser. 163 It is a question of temperament how violently either of them straitens and distorts the normal faculties of vision.
7. † b. In passive, to be at a loss, to be ‘hard put to it’. Obsolete.
a. To reduce to straits; to subject to privation, hardship, or distress. Often said of besiegers, sometimes with mixture of sense 4b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > suffer (adversity or affliction) [verb (transitive)] > afflict
overharryeOE
aileOE
swencheOE
besetOE
traya1000
teenOE
to work (also do) (a person) woeOE
derve?c1225
grieve1297
harrya1300
noyc1300
travailc1300
to work (also do) annoyc1300
wrath14..
aggrievea1325
annoya1325
tribula1325
to hold wakenc1330
anguish1340
distrainc1374
wrap1380
strain1382
ermec1386
afflicta1393
cumbera1400
assayc1400
distressc1400
temptc1400
encumber1413
labour1437
infortune?a1439
stressa1450
trouble1489
arraya1500
constraina1500
attempt1525
misease1530
exercise1531
to hold or keep waking1533
try1539
to wring to the worse1542
pinch1548
affligec1550
trounce1551
oppress1555
inflict1566
overharl1570
strait1579
to make a martyr of1599
straiten1611
tribulatea1637
to put through the hoop(s)1919
snooter1923
1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xix. 9 The siege and straitnesse, wherewith their enemies..shall straiten them. View more context for this quotation
1645 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1904) I. 400 Chester is certainly very much straitened, and if not suddenly relieved doubtless will be lost.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 127 After he had encamped in all the Parts adjacent to Bruxels, endeavouring to straiten the City, by wasting and consuming all the Fruits of the Ground.
1759 D. Hume Hist. Eng. under House of Tudor I. ii. 323 De Thermes..took the fortress of Broughty, and..straitened the English at Haddington.
1777 T. Campbell Philos. Surv. S. Ireland xxxiii. 324 With a threat to streighten them if they refused to comply.
1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella III. ii. xi. 45 The viceroy..endeavoured to straiten the garrison there by desolating the surrounding country.
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset I. xxxii. 267 I am sore straitened, and brought down into the very dust by misfortune.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > present difficulties [verb (intransitive)] > be in difficulties or straits
to be hard bested?c1225
to be hard set1387
to be hard (straitly, stiffly, etc.) steada1400
to have mistera1400
charge1487
to be hard (also sorely, etc.) put to ita1616
straiten1647
to be ill set1673
press1813
to be up a gum tree1829
push1863
1647 T. May Hist. Parl. iii. vi. 101 The Parliament..were as much straightned how to proceed in the businesse, with that expedition which was required.
c. To inconvenience by insufficiency of something specified (as time, space, supplies of any kind). Const. for, †in, †of, †with. Now only in passive (somewhat archaic).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > keep ill-supplied
to hold or keep (a person) shortc1425
strait1513
scant1565
starve1570
scantle1581
shorten1599
scant1600
scant1607
short1620
straiten1627
famish1667
limit1670
scrimp1691
under-furnish1694
stint1722
1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 325 I will not..straiten my selfe of time for the deliuery of what I am now purposed to speake.
1634 H. Sydenham Serm. (1637) 75 They are not..so straightned with time,..but they might sequester one solemne houre for the service of the Lord.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 59 These young men, streitned in time, underwent the yoke, and drew the chariot of their Mother fortie five stadia.
1661 A. Marvell & A. Gilby Let. 18 May in A. Marvell Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 25 We are as much straitned in paper and time at present as we shall be always inlarged in affection & service to you.
1662 B. Gerbier Briefe Discourse 12 Staires ought to be so long, that the Attendants on each side..may not be streightned for roome.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 219 That by shutting up their Haven, he might straighten the Townsmen of Provision.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 128 But streighten'd in my space, I must forsake This Task; for others afterwards to take. View more context for this quotation
1706 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1852) II. 260 Finding themselves straitned in time,..requested [etc.].
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. to Henry VII I. ix. 310 The garrison [of Verneuil], being straitened for provisions, were obliged to capitulate.
1817 W. H. Havergal in Jane M. Crane Rec. Life (1882) 19 The arranging and planning it [his Sunday School] has straitened me much for time.
1853 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches (1873) 2nd Ser. i. i. 6 If straitened for provisions, they [the Tartars] ate the chargers which carried them to battle.
d. To render short of money.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > poverty > make poor or impoverish [verb (transitive)]
destroy1297
poverisha1382
apoora1400
impover1418
poora1425
dispurveyc1430
impoverish1440
beggar1528
weaken1530
ruinate1547
ruin1560
depauper1562
depoverish1569
craze1573
soak1577
sift1591
waste1599
impoor1613
uncluea1616
depauperate1623
disenrich1647
necessitate1647
erumnate1676
straiten1699
poorify1711
pauperize1806
pauperate1839
pauper1841
to clear out1884
immiserate1956
penny-pincha1961
immiserize1971
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 457 The Romans being straitned in the First Punic War, lower'd their Brass Money Five parts in Six.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 295. ¶1 The Education of these my Children..streightens me so much, that [etc.].
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 247 My Nephew furnishing me with..a Letter of Credit..that I might not be straiten'd whatever might happen.
1796 F. Burney Camilla IV. viii. vii. 320 It shall value him fifty pound a-year more to his income, if I straighten myself never so much.
1818 H. Hallam View Europe Middle Ages II. viii. 267 The king, in short, was more straightened than ever. His distresses gave no small advantage to the commons.
1857 C. Kingsley Two Years Ago III. vii. 234 The old man thanked God for his good son, and only hoped that he was not straitening himself to buy luxuries for a useless old fellow.
1860 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) VI. 488 The works had fallen again into ruin; and Mary, straitened by debt,..and a supposed obligation to make good the losses of the clergy, had found neither means nor leisure to attend to them.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hinder [verb (transitive)]
letc888
shrenchc897
forstanda1000
amarOE
disturbc1290
impeachc1380
stopc1380
withstandc1385
hinder1413
accloy1422
hindc1426
to hold abackc1440
appeachc1460
impeditec1535
inhibit1535
obstacle1538
damp1548
trip1548
embarrass1578
dam1582
to clip the wings ofa1593
unhelp1598
uppen1600
straiten1607
rub1608
impediment1610
impedea1616
to put out1616
to put off1631
scote1642
obstruct1645
incommodiate1650
offend1651
sufflaminate1656
hindrance1664
disassist1671
clog1679
muzzle1706
squeeze1804
to take the wind out of the sails of1822
throttle1825
block1844
overslaugh1853
snag1863
gum1901
slow-walk1965
1607 T. Ridley (title) A view of the civile and ecclesiastical law, and wherein the practise of them is streitned, and may be relieued within this land.
1662 H. Newcome Diary (1849) 87 I preached but was a little streitned by a cold.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 53 So Inartificial is Art when she is pinched and streitned in her Workmanship.
a1683 J. Owen Disc. Holy Spirit (1693) 264 This a Man hath when he is not from any Internal Defect, or from any outward Consideration streightened in the Declaration of those things.
1726 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 234 But pray do not straiten yourself with any thing I cast in, and please dash down any thing that is proper for me to help.
Derivatives
ˈstraitening n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > cause of > action of causing
afflictionc1330
visitationc1380
grievinga1398
inflictiona1535
straiting1591
straitening1598
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > lack of breadth or narrowness > [noun] > narrowing
straiting1421
straitening1598
angustiation1638
angustation1663
narrowing1769
strangulation1882
necking1921
neckdown1984
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 231 After that is Grubstreete, more then halfe thereof to the straightning of the streete.
1646 H. Peake Medit. upon Seige 130 When a fort or Garrison cannot be gotten neither by treatie, nor by streightning, the last attempt is commonly by storming.
1692 J. Locke Some Considerations Lowering Interest 115 The Landed Man finds himself aggrieved, by the falling of his Rents, and the streightning of his Fortune.
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. i. 21 The nice balance between the straitening of effort or enthusiasm on the one hand, and vainly casting it away upon the other.
ˈstraitening adj. †straitening circumstances (obsolete) = straitened circumstances.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > [adjective] > confined, restricted, or insufficiently spacious
narroweOE
straitc1290
unwidea1400
scanta1533
angust1540
roomless1548
pinched?1567
niggard1595
strict1598
straitened1602
pinching1607
incommodious1615
incapacious1635
over-strait1645
straiteninga1652
cramp1786
bottleneck1854
cramped1884
tight1937
claustrophobic1946
claustrophobe1954
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > restriction of free action > [adjective]
strangling1606
straiteninga1652
fettery1654
cramp1786
cramping1788
astricting1837
strait-jacketing1950
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > producing or allowing decrease
reductive1633
straiteninga1652
diminishing1665
diminutive1677
remissive1686
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restriction or limitation > [adjective] > of free action
strangling1606
straiteninga1652
fettery1654
cramp1786
cramping1788
astricting1837
strait-jacketing1950
a1652 J. Smith Select Disc. (1660) ix. viii. 432 Separating them from those circumstantiating and streightning conditions of Time and Place.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 70 Nor obvious Hill, Nor streit'ning Vale,..nor Stream divides Thir perfet ranks. View more context for this quotation
a1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1805) 17 Providence..keeps them still in straitening circumstances.
1751 in J. J. Vernon Parish of Hawick (1900) 189 In case..his Widow should be reduced to straitning circumstances.
1788 D. Gilson Serm. Pract. Subj. xvii. 498 They ardently long to be removed to that state themselves, where the straitening ties of sense, or corporeal relation, shall cease to hamper or keep down the soul.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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