ppl. a. [f. STINT v. + -ED1.]
† 1. Fixed or limited by authority or decree; appointed, set. Obs.
α. a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1533), 27/2. Where the mayre and comynaltye of the cytye, hadde by the kynges graunte the cytye to ferme … for astynted and ascertayned summe of money.
c. 1550. Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893), 86. And some other, as gentlemen,… servingmen, and all other livinge by anie rated and stinted rent or stipend, are greate loosers by it [sc. by the alteration of the coinage].
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 28. The Earth left to be so fruitfull as it wont. No season but it exceeded hys stinted temprature.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 569. If any should dare … to passe by any of these places, and not pay the stinted summe of Money.
1644. Milton, Divorce, II. xiv. 58. Of popular vices those that may bee committed legally, will be more pernicious then those … not under a stinted priviledge to sin orderly and regularly.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), XI. 226. The creatures also have their set and stinted times allotted them, beyond which they can do nothing with success.
β. 1786. Har’st Rig, xxxii. Now when the stented time is past Which they’re allowed to break their fast The master comes.
† b. In the controversies of the 17th c. freq. applied (echoing Barrowe’s use: see quot. 1586) to set liturgical forms as opposed to ‘free’ prayer. Obs.
1586. Barrowe, Exam. (1593), B j b. Quest. 2. Wither he thinketh that any Leitourgies, or prescript formes of prayer may be imposed vpon the church and whither al read and stinted prayers be mere babling in Gods sight? Ans. I finde in the worde of God no … such stinted leitourgies prescribed.
1610. Bp. Hall, Apol. Brownists, xxxvii. 92. The Priest was appointed of old to vse a set forme vnder the law,… so the people,… Both of them a stinted Psalme for the Sabboth.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xvi. 151. He with sighs unutterable by any words, much less by a stinted Liturgie, dwelling in us, makes intercession for us.
1712. Ld. King, Primitive Ch., II. 33. Now these other prayers which made up a great part of Divine Service were not stinted and imposed forms.
2. Of pasture: Divided into or subject to rights of pasturage; limited to the pasturing of a definite number of cattle.
1690. Andros Tracts (1868), I. 97. The Proprietors of the stinted Pasture in Charlestown.
1700. Mem. St. Giles’s (Surtees), 96. The many Whins that groweth on Gilligate Moor (or stainted Pasture) do very much damnifie the said moor.
1796. W. H. Marshall, W. England, II. 136. They were made from the unreclaimed forest state; without the intervention of common fields or stinted pastures.
1854. Spec. Rep. Inclosure Comm., 3. Wanwood stinted pasture. Ibid. Common fields and lands, subject to stinted rights.
1892. M. C. F. Morris, Yorks. Folk-Talk, Gloss. s.v., A stinted pasture is a pasture limited to carry so many sheep.
3. Limited in quantity, scanty.
1629. Gaule, Pract. Theories, 169. Mine owne Infinicie [sic] enlarges me to Wrath aboue their stinted Capacities.
1783. Crabbe, Village, I. 169. Nor mock the misery of a stinted meal—Homely, not wholesome; plain, not plenteous.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxvi. I would rather remain in this hall a week without food save the prisoner’s stinted loaf.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. xi. 168. This order … conferred but a narrow and stinted authority.
1864. Tennyson, Enoch Ard., 823. He … help’d At lading and unlading the tall barks That brought the stinted commerce of those days.
1890. Spectator, 15 Feb. [He] made an insufficient and stinted apology, when at last it became evident that an apology must be made.
b. Limited in scope, narrow.
1710. Berkeley, Princ. Hum. Knowl., § 81. My own few, stinted, narrow inlets of perception.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1899), IV. 148. [They] would have thrust me wholly from Christ, if I did not consent to receive him within their stinted pale.
4. Of a plant or animal: Checked in growth, undeveloped; hence, undersized. Cf. STUNTED.
1759. trans. Duhamel’s Husb., I. xii. (1762), 63. When plants grow stinted or sickly in a poor soil.
1763. Mills, Pract. Husb., IV. 320. If they make thriving shoots, which have not a ragged or stinted appearance.
1795. Burns, Destr. Drumlanrig Woods, iv. And scarce a stintit birk is left To shiver in the blast its lane.
1842. Florist’s Jrnl. (1846), III. 83. If the situation is much exposed and the soil very poor, the dog-rose is very stinted, and soon ceases to grow.
transf. 1831. Carlyle, Sartor Res., I. i. Perhaps it is proof of the stinted condition in which pure Science … languishes among us.
1864–8. Browning, J. Lee’s Wife, VIII. iii. Who art thou, with stinted soul And stunted body?
5. Of a mare or she-ass: In foal.
1847. Halliwell, Stinted, in foal, as a mare. West.
1884. W. Sussex Gaz., 25 Sept. A female donkey, stinted.
Hence Stintedly adv., Stintedness.
1827. Carlyle, Misc., Richter (1840), I. 21. It is … a nature in harmony with itself, reconciled to the world and its stintedness and contradiction.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, xxxviii. He was content to lie hard, and live stintedly.
1892. Tennyson, Foresters, I. i. Now you know why we live so stintedly.
