Forms: 4 strayn, strayny, 4–5 streny, streyn, 4–6 Sc. strenȝe, 5–6 stren(e, 4–7 strane, strayne, streine, (7 strein), 4–8 streyne, 6 straigne, -ygne, streigne, -ygne, Sc. strengȝe, strenye, 6–7 straine, 6– strain. [ME. streyne, etc., a. OF. estrein-, estreign-, estren-, stem of estreindre, estraindre (mod.F. étreindre) to bind tightly, clasp, squeeze, corresp. to Pr. estrenher, Cat. estrenyer, Sp. estreñir, It. strignere, stringere:—L. stringĕre to bind tightly, to draw tight, tighten: see STRINGENT a.
The sense ‘to draw tight’ (whence branch II below) is app. not recorded for OF. estraindre, though it was prob. not wholly wanting, as it is the earliest sense to appear in Eng.; the L. stringere was common in this sense. Branches III, IV, and V seem to be purely Eng. developments.]
1. To bind tightly; to clasp, squeeze.
† 1. trans. To bind fast; to confine in bonds. Obs.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 7181. Þai salle be … In helle hard bonden,… And straytely streyned ilka lym.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 7207. With a gyrdel off ryhtwysnesse, Thy reynys strongly for to streyne [pour bien estraindre fort les reins].
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 177/1. Saynt peter was emprysoned in a strayte place wherin he was strayned.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. vii. 78. Baith hir tendir handis War strengȝeit sair, yboundin hard with bandis.
fig. 1382. Wyclif, Num. xxx. 14. If she auowe, and bi ooth streyne hir self [1388 byndith hir silf; Vulg. se constrinxerit].
c. 1435. in Kingsford, Chron. London (1905), 21. Bondes of Liegeaunce … in which they weren or ben bounden to me, or in eny other wyse Streynyd.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 394/1. And with these woordes of hys own, will I strayne him fast and sure.
b. To fasten, attach firmly. Const. to, or with together. lit. and fig. Obs. exc. (rarely, influenced by sense 2) with the sense: To attach by compulsion.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 109. Kyng Kanute,… þat he myȝte streyne [L. astringeret] þe reme of Engelond more faste unto hym, wedded to his wyf Emme the queene.
1391. Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 14. Thorw wich pyn ther goth a litel wegge … þat streyneth alle thise parties to hepe.
c. 1450. Maitl. Club Misc., III. 201. Item ane salter befor the Licentiatis stal strenyeit.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 59. It is agane the law of luif, of kynd, and of nature, Togidder hairtis to streine, that stryveis with vther.
1530. Tindale, Exod. xxxix. 21. And they strayned the brestlappe by his ringes vnto the ringes of the Ephod, with laces of Iacincte.
1856. Merivale, Rom. Emp., IV. xxxiv. 105. It was requisite to strengthen and draw closer the bonds which strained them to the conquerors.
† c. To stanch (blood). Obs. rare–1.
c. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 79. Also puluer of vitriol combuste streyneþ blode in euery place if it be putte by itself or with iuyse of any herbe streynyng blode.
† d. To constrict (the organic tissues). Obs. rare.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe, I. 8 b. Flewme stiptik or binding,… hath the tast lyke to grene redde wyne, or other lyke, straynyng the tunge.
1548. Elyot’s Dict., Astrictus gustus, a rough or sharpe tast, that streigneth the tongue.
2. To clasp tightly in one’s arms. Obs. exc. as in b.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1205. This Troilus in armes gan hir streyne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 34. So hauing said, her twixt her armes twaine She straightly straynd.
1597. Drayton, Heroic Ed., Owen Tudor to Q. Kath., 39. Euen as a mother comming to her child,… With tender armes his gentle necke doth straine.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., IV. i. 46. Our King has all the Indies in his Armes, And more and richer, when he straines that Lady.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 726. In vain, with folding Arms, the Youth assay’d To stop her flight, and strain the flying Shade.
b. esp. to strain (a person) to one’s bosom, heart, and the like.
1789. Charlotte Smith, Ethelinde (1814), V. 297. ‘She is mine!’ continued he; straining her to his bosom.
1809. Campbell, Gertrude, I. xxiii. He said—and strain’d unto his heart the boy.
1883. Frances M. Peard, Contrad., xxii. He strained her to him again.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxxv. He strained her again and again to his heart.
3. To clasp tightly in the hand.
a. † To press, squeeze (another’s hand or fingers, a person by the hand) in love or farewell (obs.). Also (rarely), to clasp (one’s own hands) forcibly.
1518. H. Watson, Hist. Oliver of Castile (Roxb.), C 4. He toke his leue of the quene, the whiche dydde strayne his fyngres togyder at the departynge.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. x. 9. [He said] I gyue you leue, and kyste hym, streynynge hym by the hande, in sygne of great loue.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 330. She strained her husbands hand, and concluded both hier speech and life with these complaining words.
1888. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., viii. ‘Mrs. Ferrers,’ cried Lassie, straining her thin hands together, ‘don’t break it to me, please. Tell me the whole truth at once.’
b. To grip, grasp tightly (a weapon, etc.). Obs. or arch.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 21. The one in hand an yron whip did strayne, The other brandished a bloudy knife. Ibid., III. v. 21. The third brother … droue at him with all his might and maine A forrest bill, which both his hands did straine.
1825. Scott, Talism., xv. ‘Name her not …’ said the King, again straining the curtal-axe in his gripe, until the muscles started above his brawny arm.
† c. Of a bird (esp, a hawk) or beast: To seize (its prey) in its claws. Chiefly absol. Obs.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 17528. I Gryppe and streyne lyk a Gryffoun, And faste I holde ther-with-al Coper, yren, and ech metal.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Hawking, a vj b. The .ix. [term belonging to hawking] she streynith and not Clithith nor Cratchith.
1530. Palsgr., 738/1. I strayne, as a hauke doth, or any other syche lyke fowle or beest in theyr clawes, je estraings. Were a good glove I reede you, for your hauke strayneth harde.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 214. When they are unable … to performe their parts … as not to be able to flee or strayn ye pray wt their pownces.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. iv. 22. [The bear] Gnashing his cruell teeth at him in vaine, And threatning his sharpe clawes, now wanting powre to straine.
4. To constrict painfully, as with an encircling cord. Also in wider sense: † To hurt by physical pressure; to pinch.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxii. 646. Sancte laurens … be þe areme can hyme strenȝe [brachium ejus strinxit] rycht sayre and Increly.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 8257. Thys glouys bynde me so sore,… And al the remnaunt … off armure, Me streyneth so on euery syde, That [etc.].
c. 1500. Kennedy, Passion of Christ, 379. Thai strenȝeit þai fair handis with a string.
1586. Withals’ Dict. (1599), 65. I wot wel where my shooe pincheth or straineth me.
1618. W. Lawson, New Orch. & Gard. (1626), 27. Take well tempered morter, soundly wrought with chaffe or horsedung (for the dung of cattell will grow hard, and straine your graffes).
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, IV. 101. Was it … For this with fillets [you] strain’d your tender head?
1830. Tennyson, To ——, i. The wounding cords that bind and strain The heart until it bleeds.
† 5. To compress, contract, diminish (in bulk or volume); to draw together (the brows). Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. xlix. (Tollemache MS.). [The field is] streynid in winter with froste and with colde, and swellid in somer with brennynge and with hete [L. hyeme gelu et frigore constringitur].
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 57. The see callede Pontus, diffusede from þens towarde the northe makethe the see callede Propontides. And from thens hit is streynede also into vjc passes [L. stringitur in secentos passus].
1445. trans. Claudian, in Anglia, XXVIII. 271. Thi yiftes be not streyned In noon smal boke thei may be writen.
c. 1530. Judic. Urines, II. iii. 17 b. This feuer … is knowen by straynyng togyder of the browis.
† b. refl. To squeeze oneself through (a narrow passage). Also with out. Obs.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 1211. By straining himself out at a little window … he in safetie got down to the ground.
1606. S. Gardiner, Bk. Angling, 37. Some like slimy and slipperie eeles, no sooner find themselues entangled in the nette, but they seeke to wind and straine out themselues.
a. 1678. Marvell, Appleton Ho., 31. As practising, in doors so strait, To strain themselves through Heavens Gate.
† c. To derive (a word) by contraction. Obs. rare–1.
1614. Camden, Rem., Names, 101. Pernel, from Petronilla, Pretty-stone, as Piere and Perkin strained out of Petre.
† 6. To press hard upon, afflict, distress. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 234. Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxi. 40. Day and nyȝt with hoot and coolde Y was streynyd [1388 angwischid; Vulg. æstu urebar (? misread urgebar) et gelu].
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 2684. And cold as ony frost now waxeth she, For Pite by the herte hire streynyth so.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 116. He might not speke … his herte was so closed and strained with anguissh.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. ix. 58. In quhat pvnition, panis, and distres, Bene saulis ȝondir strenȝeit [L. quibusve urgentur poenis]?
1580. G. Harvey, Three Proper Lett., 40. Such pleasaunce makes the Grashopper so poore, And ligge so layde, when winter doth her strayne.
1730. T. Boston, Mem., vi. (1899), 77. Being strained with this message I laid it before the Lord.
† 7. To bridle, control, restrain. Obs.
Often with allusion to Ps. xxxi[i]. 9 (Vulg. constringe).
a. 1340. Hampole, Ps. xxxi[i]. § 12. In keuel and bridel streyn þaire chekis.
1340. Ayenb., 263. Þet is to zigge huych mayne to moche slac and wylles uol ssel by: bote yef þe ilke uaderes stefhede hise strayny and ordayny.
c. 1346. Hampole, Prose Tr., 6. I … said þat I wald ryse and blesse vs in þe name of þe Haly Trynytee, and scho strenyde me so stallworthely þat I had no mouthe to speke, ne no hande to styrre.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 176. A stede ful stif to strayne.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 74. Þe loue of Goddis lawe … schuld streyn men fro þis Office.
1414. Brampton, Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.), 11. And streyne here chekys fro woordys y-dell, That kan noȝt holdyn here tungys stylle.
1434. Misyn, Mending Life, 112. Besy kepyng of þi vtward wittis, þat tastyn[g] sauerynge, herynge & seynge vndyr þe bridyll of gouernans wysely be strenyd.
1529. More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 168/2. So hath God euer kepte man in humilite, straynyng him with ye knowledge of confession of his ygnoraunce. Ibid. (1533), Answ. Poysoned Bk., Ibid. 1054/2. Pray him … to draw you, and as the Prophet sayth to pray him strayn your iawes with a bitte and a brydle.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, I. A ij. You gave me might these stormy winds to strain or make to blow.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1190. Of men of armes he had but small regard, But kept them lowe, and streigned verie hard.
1595. Hunnis, Joseph, 42. He did refraine and straine himselfe, as it had not been he.
† b. To restrict, confine. Obs.
1566. Painter, Palace Pleas., I. 260. When they happened to be strayned to straight lodging, the maried gentleman would not sticke to suffer his frend to lye with him and his wife.
† 8. To force, press, constrain (to a condition or an action). Also const. to with inf. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 220. To what fyn made the god that sit so hye, Benethen him, love other company, And streyneth folk to love, malgre hir hede?
a. 1400. Pauline Epist., 2 Cor. v. 14 (1916), 112. Caritas enim christi urget nos.… Forwhy þe charite of crist streynes vs.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3549. I hope you wenes at we be like to þire lethire Persyns, Þat þou þi lordschip to loute has now on late strayned.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 94. Folk may nocht be strenȝeit to mak weris.
1528. More, Dyaloge, II. Wks. 200/1. The profe … semeth me not very stronge nor able & sufficient to strayne a man to consent therto.
1531. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., 98/1. He is oblist and strenȝeit to mak continuale residence and service at the said chaplanriis.
1551. T. Wilson, Logic, II. L ij. Some of these causes worke by the force and violence of nature, some by an outward powre, beyng strained thervnto.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Glouc., xix. How stoutly we dyd the king strayne The Rule of his realme wholy to resygne.
1595. Shaks., John, III. iii. 46. Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes, And straine their cheekes to idle merriment.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 590. Who doubts but the enemie,… strained by necessitie,… will prey vpon your countries, houses, and goods?
† b. To incite (a person) to exertion, to urge.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, I. 8. Agamemnon, whome anger forward straines.
† c. To urge, insist upon (a thing). Also absol.
1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 240. Þei schulde teche þat whosoevere approves þis, confermes hit, or streynes hit, he synnes ageyns God.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 260. Hee sheweth howe readie hee is, not onely in taking paines himselfe, but in strayning his friendes ayde also, that such meanes may be wrought.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 250. Note if your Lady straine his Entertainment With any strong, or vehement importunitie, Much will be seene in that.
† d. To compel to go. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 691. By wayez ful streȝt he con hym strayn [after deduxit per vias rectas, Vulg. Sap. x. 10].
† 9. To extract (liquor or juice) by pressure: to squeeze out. Also intr. Of a juice: To exude.
1483. Cath. Angl., 368/1. To Stren iuse of herbis (or herbys), exsuccare.
1583. H. Howard, Defensative, I j b. That we may beware of those that strayne Oyle out of a Flint.
1621. H. Elsing, Lords’ Debates (Camden), 56. That a favourable construccion be made, &c., and not to the squiesing of blood out of wordes…. Yt was a greate mistakeing to say ‘to streyne blood out of wordes.’
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 94. These Juices strain out of their own accord.
fig. 1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 608. [They] Still run on Poets, in a raging vein, Ev’n to the dregs and squeezings of the brain, Strain out the last dull droppings of their sense. Ibid. (1735), Prol. Sat., 182. The Bard … Just writes to make his barrenness appear, And strains, from hard-bound brains, eight lines a year.
1781. Cowper, Table-t., 533. From him who rears a poem lank and long, To him who strains his all into a song.
† b. To extort (money, confessions, etc.). Obs.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 184. Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull. Iew. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain’d.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., II. xx. § ii. (1699), 230. His Majesties Advocat is still a party interested, and so should not be allowed to deal with the Witnesses; for thereby he may strain from them what otherwise they would not depone.
a. 1699. J. Kirkton, Secr. Hist. Ch. Scot. (1817), 314. Yet when he or his friends talked in the English parliament, and hade a mind to strain money from it, they spoke of a warre with France.
II. To tighten, draw tight, stretch.
10. To extend with some effort; to subject to tension, to stretch.
a. To draw tight (a band, bandage, bonds). Also absol.
c. 1300. Beket (Percy Soc.), 1475. The straples were istreynd hard ynouȝ.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 297. Binde it [the wart] wiþ a strong þreed, & streine wel þe þred & drawe him awei wiþ þe þreed.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., L ij. Hede must be taken to strayne to harde or to loose [upon the hurt place]…. And some put to double clothes, and strayne them and sewe them on the place.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 596. But thou, the more he varies Forms, beware To strain his Fetters with a stricter Care.
in fig. context. 1707. Norris, Treat. Humility, vi. 237. This strains the hard knot of poverty yet harder, and makes it pinch more sensibly.
1757. Burke, Abridgm. Eng. Hist., Wks. 1842, II. 544. ‘There may be a danger in straining too strongly the bonds of government.
† b. To stretch and hold extended (a body or its limbs on a cross, on the rack, etc.). Obs.
a. 13[?]. Cursor M., 16762 + 126. His armes wore so streyned oute [on the Cross].
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 643. And strayte I-streynet on þe Rode, Streyned to druye on Rode-tre, As parchemyn oweþ for to be.
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 289/2. He dyde doo strayne and payne them in the torment of Eculee.
a. 1500. St. Patrick’s Purgatory, 355, in Brome Bk., 93. Whyll þat þey streynyd forth hys fete [etc.].
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 254 b. Some affirmeth that he was first streyned on lyeng wyde open on the grounde.
c. To extend and make taut (a line, wire, etc.), to stretch (material on a frame, over a surface, etc.). Also with out.
c. 1400–50. Wars Alex. (Dubl. MS.), 792*. Than strenys he hys streropes & streȝt vp sittes. Ibid., 840*. [He] Stranes owt hys sterops & sternly lokez.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xviii. 25. Ther they founde CCC. caudrons made of bestis skynnes,… strayned on stakes ouer the fyre, full of water.
1539. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. III. 4. 173. [Five Banners, which] waving & Strayned with the wynde … made a goodly Showe.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 66 b. This house was couered with coardes strayned by craft…. Ouer their coardes was streyned wollen clothes of light blew.
1573. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 201. Nayles to strayne the Canvas.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, IV. i. On the one [wall] I straine me a fayre tarre-paulin; and, in that, I stick my onions, cut in halfes.
1627. Capt. Smith, Sea Gram., v. 21. The Ties … doe carry up the Yards when wee straine the Halyards.
1761. Gray, Fatal Sisters, 6. Glittering lances are the loom, Where the dusky warp we strain.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xvi. The book is fixed; we will not strain the line too soon.
1820. C. Hayter, Introd. Perspective, 255. The vellum … must be strained tight, by tacking on a straining frame.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., x. (1842), 257. The temporary cover thus formed fits the mouth of the vessel tightly, is strained level over its surface.
1893. Law Times, XCV. 104/2. The barbed wire fence … was strained to posts … 6 ft. high.
† quasi-intr. for pass.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxii. ¶ 6. He pulls the Cord as hard … as he can; and keeping the Cord straining, whips it again about the Head and other sides of the Page.
transf. and fig. 1590. Greene, Orl. Fur., I. ii. Although the mystic vayle straind ouer Cynthia Hinders my sight from noting all thy crue.
1634. J. Robinson, Lawfulness of Hearing Ministers, Wks. 1851, III. 360. To strain the strings of this imagined proportion to make them meet, and to suppose the church to be as the altar, yet [etc.].
d. To tighten up (the strings of a musical instrument) so as to raise the pitch. Also with up.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 377. Mercurius … putte seuene strenges to þe harpe … and þey putte to þe strenges and streyned [L. strinxit] hem in þis manere.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, i. 4. Not so much as two strings beeing of one selfesame nature, can agree in one tune, without the wit of a man that can skil to streine them and to slacke them as he seeth it good.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 184. Wherby you shall discouer … the Proportion likewise of the Sound towards the String, as it is more or lesse strained.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIV. 244/1. The sympathetic strings were … strained to pitch … by means of additional pegs.
fig. 1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iii. Castilio, Forobosco, all Straine up your wits, winde up invention Unto his highest bent.
a. 1626. Breton, Daffodils & P. (Grosart), 20/2. A harte (not harpe) is all her instrument, Whose weakned stringes all out of tune she stranes.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 385. Man … in ev’ry sense a wretch, An instrument, whose cords, upon the stretch, And strain’d to the last screw that he can bear, Yield only discord in his Maker’s ear.
† e. To stretch (cloth) fraudulently. Obs.
1514–5. Act 6 Hen. VIII., c. 9. The byer … shall not … streyne nor do to be streyned in bred the same Clothes … by teyntour or wynche.
c. 1560. Maldon (Essex) Docum. Liber B. fol. 55 b. Whether they shalbe stretched or streyned or pressed with the hott presse.
† f. To extend (a thing), to stretch to the full length. Also with forth, out. Also intr. for refl.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. vi. (1495), 111. The eye shall not be straynyd to ferre oute nother areryd to hyghe.
c. 1450. Capgrave, St. Gilbert, xl. 120. In hir creping þe senewes whech were contract be-fore in hir lendes [loins], þei brak and streyned oute to swech largenesse þat [etc.].
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 47. Olyuer … aroos oute of hys bedde and began for to scratche [? read stratche] and strayne hys armes and to fele yf it were possyble to hymn to bere armes.
† g. To elongate by hammering. Obs.
1674. Ray, Collect. Words, Wire Work, 132. They take little square bars, made like bars of steel and strain i. e. draw them at a Furnace with a hammer … into square rods.
11. fig. a. To force the meaning or sense of (words, an ordinance, decree, etc.); † to distort the form of (a word). Also absol.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xi. 58. The other vndirstonding, bi which summen streynen thilk text forto speke of the writing which we han now of the Newe Testament.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., IV. i. 75. Wor. This absence of your Father drawes a Curtaine [etc.]…. Hotsp. You strayne too farre. I rather of his absence make this vse: [etc.]. Ibid. (1604), Oth., III. iii. 218. I am to pray you, not to straine my speech To grosser issues.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., i. 14. The ancient German names beeing by latin or other authors strayned and drawn vnto their ortography, according to their fancies.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. i. § 8. 15. Neuerthelesse wee finde many and good Authors, who … are well contented to straine these prophecies with vnreasonable diligence vnto such a sense.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1675), Pref. 16. If … I may have at any time a little Strain’d the Similitude, the better to accommodate it to my present Theme, and Design.
1753. Challoner, Cath. Chr. Instr., 170. The Protestant Translation has strained the Text to make it say more than the Original.
1785. Burke, Sp. Nabob of Arcot’s Debts, Wks. 1842, I. 341. And, lastly, and above all, not to be fond of straining constructions, to force a jurisdiction.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 488. Defective laws should be altered by the legislature, and not strained by the tribunals.
1884. Law Rep., 27 Chanc. Div. 638. I think that … I am not straining the effect of the order in saying so.
b. To transgress the strict requirements of (one’s conscience), to violate the spirit of (one’s oath).
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. iv. 8. And he that would not straine his conscience For him that thus his liberall purse hath stretcht, Vnworthy such a fauour may he faile.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 618/2. They make noe more scruple to pass [judgement] agaynst an Englishman, and the Queene, though it be to strayne theyr othes, then to drinke milke unstrayned.
1877. Owen, Wellesley’s Desp., Introd. 16. The exigencies of the war … had induced Lord Cornwallis to strain his conscience so far as to write a letter, which was to have the binding force of a Treaty.
c. To force (prerogative, power, etc.) beyond its legitimate extent or scope.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vii. § 9. The temperate use of the Prerogative [of Q. Elizabeth], not slackened, nor much strayned.
1733. Pope, Ess. Man, III. 290. ’Twas then, the studious head … Taught Pow’r’s due use to People and to Kings, Taught not to slack, nor strain its tender strings.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. x. 108. The Crown retains prerogatives at present which would be fatal to it if strained.
† d. To apply or use (a thing) beyond its province. Obs.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iii. 19. Nor ought so good, but strain’d from that faire vse, Reuolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, IV. i. 254. For to strange sores strangely they straine the cure.
1621. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), 269. He denyeth that hee hath any way taxt the Councell or strained his pen … beyond due bounds or reason.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 229. Nothing marreth the life and spirit of the invented things so much, as to force and strain them to a fore-determined purpose.
1647. Hamilton Papers (Camden), 146. Because you had assured me you were to goe out of town I strained not the time that prest me exceedingly.
e. To strain a metaphor (see quot.).
1783. Blair, Lect., I. xv. 313. If the resemblance … be long dwelt upon, and carried into all its minute circumstances we make an allegory instead of a metaphor…. This is called straining a Metaphor.
f. To strain a point: to exceed one’s usual limits of procedure, to do more than one is bound to do or go further than one is entitled to go in a matter. Cf. STRETCH v.
1596. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (ed. 2), 401. He would not sticke to straine a point, so that he might glorifie Saint Thomas thereby.
1661. Godolphin, View Adm. Jurisd., Introd. [a 5]. In time of war they strain a point to drive a Colourable Trade.
1757. Sir B. Keene, Desp., 26 Sept., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 219. Tho’ we should have strain’d a Point to serve Him.
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, xxxiv. 343. We’ve not quite so much proof as I could wish. It would be straining a point to arrest him, as it stands.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 393. You must be generous, strain point, and call Victory, any the least flush of pink Made prize of.
† g. To insist upon unduly, to be over-punctilious about. Obs.
1665. Dryden, Ind. Emperor, III. ii. I’le not strain Honour to a point too high; I sav’d your Life, now keep it if you can.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 99, ¶ 5. In Books of Chivalry, where the Point of Honour is strained to Madness.
h. To strain courtesy: see COURTESY sb. 1 c.
† i. To raise to an extreme degree. Obs.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., xxviii. ii. 327. To the end that a duple authority, and the same strained to the height [L. erectaque sublatius], might patch matters together.
1612. Capt. Smith, Virginia, 23. All their actions, voices and gestures, both in charging and retiring, were so strained to the hight of their quallitie and nature, that [etc.].
1697. Dryden, Æneis, VII. 536. Nor yet content, she strains her Malice more, And adds new Ills to those contriv’d before.
j. To strain up: to force up to a higher scale of estimation; to ‘screw up’ (rents, usury) to an oppressive rate.
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 218. In all places they are permitted to streine up their Vsury to eighteene in the hundred upon the Christian.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. xi. 142. Both of these species are also either felonious, or not felonious. The felonious breaches of the peace are strained up to that degree of malignity by virtue of several modern statutes.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 23 Aug., 8/2. ‘What is to be understood by “straining rents”?’… ‘I have known houses, built to let at 11s. a week, gradually strained up to 14s.’
k. To raise to a high state of emotional tension.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 454. My earthly by his Heav’nly overpowerd, Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth In that celestial Colloquie sublime,… sunk down, and sought repair Of sleep.
1820. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. South-sea House. While he held you in converse, you felt strained to the height in the colloquy.
1867. H. Macmillan, Bible Teach., ii. (1870), 31. Each sense was strained, by the sublimity around, to its utmost tension.
l. To make excessive demands upon, tax severely (resources, credit, friendship, etc.). Also, † to tax severely the resources of (a person).
1609. Dekker, Ravens Alm., F 1. The Farmer carefull of his day, because he knew the hard conscience of the Usurer, straind himselfe and his friends, and prouided the money.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxi. 140. Great spirits, having mounted to the highest pitch of performance, afterwards strain and break their credits in striving to go beyond it.
1673. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 57. I am much deceiv’d if they are not willing to straine themselves very far on any such publick acct.
1798. in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp. (1877), 754. The Company have, from such considerations, strained their own means to put their servants on the most liberal footing.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxii. IV. 701. The King had strained his private credit in Holland to procure bread for his army.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. xi. 308. There were occasions … when Eden strained those friendships severely.
1912. Eng. Hist. Rev., Oct., 712. His [Burke’s] succour to the distressed French exiles had strained his scanty resources to the breaking-point.
m. To raise (matters, relations between parties) to a dangerous state of tension. Cf. STRAINED ppl. a.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1348. Consider, Samson; matters now are strain’d Up to the highth, whether to hold or break.
12. To stretch (sinews, nerves, muscles) beyond the normal degree (as the supposed condition of intense exertion); hence, to force to extreme effort, exert to the utmost (one’s limbs, organs, powers). To strain every nerve (fig.): to use one’s utmost endeavors.
1446. Lydg., Nightingale Poems, ii. 73. This bridde … Syngeth as that she wold hir-self dismembre, Streyneth hir throte, peyneth hir brest at al.
1548. Elyot’s Dict., s.v. Intendo, I must streigne a sinew or stretche a veyne, to begyle this olde man.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 261. To make them al amends therfore in the behoofe of one, I must straine mine abilitie.
1584. Cogan, Haven Health, i. 3. They streine more one part of the body than an other, as shooting the armes, running the legges, &c.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., III. iii. 94. He sweats, Straines his yong Nerues, and puts himselfe in posture That acts my words.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1646. This utter’d, straining all his nerves he bow’d.
1777. Johnson, Lett. Mrs. Thrale, 27 Oct. Some strain their powers for efforts of gaiety.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxx. That memorable discharge of fireworks … which Master Laneham … has strained all his eloquence to describe.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. i. All Constitutional Deputies did strain every nerve.
1841. Elphinstone, Hist. Ind., I. 345. This last exercise only operates on the arms and chest, but the others strain every muscle in the frame.
1855. Kingsley, Heroes, IV. iii. (1868), 251. His father sat … and strained his old eyes across the sea, to see the ship afar.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 158. When we view then with two eyes … the muscles of the eyeball are not strained.
1894. L. Alma-Tadema, Wings of Icarus, 159. I strained my ears in vain for a sound.
b. intr. for refl. of the eyes.
1855. Browning, Ch. Roland, xviii. No sound, no sight as far as eye could strain.
c. To force (the voice) above its natural compass.
1913. Times, 14 May, 8/5. He seemed to be straining it [sc. his voice] upon the high notes.
d. Photogr. (See quot.)
1890. Woodbury, Encycl. Dict. Photogr., 335. But if brought nearer than a certain point, the lens will be what is termed ‘strained,’ and the image will become dreadfully distorted.
13. To injure or alter by excessive tension.
a. To injure (a limb, muscle, tendon, etc.) by stretching or over-exertion; to sprain. Also refl. of a person or animal.
1612. Benvenuto’s Passenger, I. iv. 313. I haue strayned one of my feete.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 3 Oct. I have strained the thumb of my left hand with pulling him. Ibid. (1726), To Janus, 22. Prudes decay’d about may tack, Strain their necks with looking back.
1788. Mrs. Anne Hughes, Henry & Isab., IV. xxxiii. 240. Mrs. Maitland, having … strained one of her ancles.
1890. Conan Doyle, White Company, xxviii. I strained a sinew on the day that I slew the three men at Castelnau.
1891. M. Roberts, Land-travel & Sea-faring, 131. Devilskin strained himself … by treading on a loose stone.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 18. Nerves and muscles may be acutely ‘strained.’ The word is placed between inverted commas to shew that it is used in its popular sense…. Whether this is due to the stretching of fine nerve-twigs it is scarcely possible to decide.
b. To impair or imperil the strength of (a material thing) by excessive tension or disruptive force.
1730–46. Thomson, Seasons, Autumn, 320. Strained to the root, the stooping forest pours A rustling shower of yet untimely leaves.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., 10 July (1815), 222. Crossing a deep gutter, made by a torrent, the coach was so hard strained, that one of the irons which connect the frame snapped.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1007. But Geraint’s [lance], A little in the late encounter strain’d, Struck … home, And then brake short.
1868. Chamb. Jrnl., 13 June, 381/2. The ship had strained herself a good deal, owing to the heavy cargo of railway-iron she had stowed in her hold.
1884. Law Times, LXXVII. 26/2. A tug towed at her for an hour and a half before she was got off, during which time her decks and waterways were much strained.
c. Physics. (See quot. 1856.) Also intr. for refl.
1850. Rankine, Misc. Sci. Papers (1881), 82. When the body is strained, therefore, the pressure is the resultant of the variations of all those forces, arising from the displacements of the atomic centres from their natural relative positions.
1856. Sir W. Thomson, in Phil. Trans., CXLVI. 481. If a stone, a beam, or a mass of metal, in a building, or in a piece of framework, becomes condensed or dilated, in any direction, or bent, or twisted, or distorted in any way, it is said to experience a strain, to become strained, or often in common language, simply ‘to strain.’
1879. Thomson & Tait, Nat. Phil., I. I. § 154. Thus a rod which becomes longer or shorter is strained.
III. To press through a filtering medium, to filter. (Cf. 9.)
14. To press (a liquid) through a porous or perforated medium which keeps back the denser portions or the solid matter held in suspension; to free (solid matter) from the contained or accompanying liquid by this process; to purify or refine by filtration. Also absol.
In mod. use to strain is to pass through a medium having visible pores, as hair-cloth or muslin, while to filter refers to the use of a medium such as paper, a layer of charcoal, a bed of sand, etc.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 210. Thise Cookes, how they stampe, and streyne [L. alius contundit et colat], and grynde And turnen substaunce in-to Accident.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. lx. (1495), 897. Fyrste vyneygre is sodde wyth necessary herbes … thenne the vyneygre is streynyd and clensyd.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum, 9. Take ryse … And þorowgh a strynour þou hom strene. Ibid., 40. Breke eyren and streyne hom thorowghe a clothe.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., § 44. Styrre it aboute, and than streyne it thorowe an olde clothe.
1591. A. W., Bk. Cookrye, 5 b. Then … strain the yolkes of Egges with Vinager, and put them into your broth. Ibid., 9 b. Then straine a little bread and put it in.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 330. First an Osier Colender provide Of Twigs … (such toiling Peasants twine, When thro’ streight Passages they strein their Wine).
1731. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 269. Some people have such an aversion to them [snails] that they can’t gett down any liquid into wch they are but strain’d.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), 668. Macerate for fourteen days in a stopped glass bottle, and strain.
1826. Art Brewing (ed. 2), 153. The juice must then be strained through a coarse hair-sieve, to keep back its grosser particles.
1901. J. Black, Carp. & Build., Home Handicr., 50. Boil a little common size…, strain through muslin into a clean pan.
b. said of natural agencies.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 562. Three fountaines walme out of the ground streined, as it should seeme, through a veine of Alum.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 194. [He] contends that rivers must be supplied from the sea, strained through the pores of the earth.
c. transf. and fig.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 5. Of be whiche þinges our litel konnynge myȝte nouȝt take knowleche,… but besines of writers to oure vnkunnynge hadde i-holde and i-streyned mynde of olde dedes [L. transfunderet … memoriam transactorum].
1589. Pappe w. Hatchet, in Lyly’s Wks. (1902), III. 402. I will boyle thee, straine thee, and then drie thee, so that of a lubber,… I will at last make a dram of knaues powder.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 169. Faith and troth, Strain’d purely from all hollow bias drawing: Bids thee … welcome.
1662. E. Hopkins, Funeral Serm. (1685), 21. So a Christian, when he is strained through the grave, loseth all his brackishness, all his dreggs and scumme, and becomes pure and holy.
1785. Cowper, Task, II. 438. The nasal twang Heard at conventicle, where worthy men, Misled by custom, strain celestial themes Through the prest nostril, spectacle-bestrid.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, V. ii. 169. Judge. Let tortures strain the truth till it be white.
d. To remove (liquid) by filtration, drain off. Const. from. Also with out, off.
15[?]. in Oxf. Archd. Will Reg. (N. & Q., 11th Ser. 1914, IX. 268/1). Then streyne the licour from the barley.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., 40. Let it boyle … vntil it be diminished of the third part, than straine it out softly.
1640. T. Brugis, Marrow of Physicke, II. 142. Straine all the thin water from them through a faire Cloth.
1747. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, 12. Let it [the gravy] stew till it is quite rich and good; then season it to your Taste with Salt, and then strain it off. Ibid., 15. Then take out your Tripe and strain the Liquor out.
fig. 1848. H. Rogers, Ess. (1860), I. 275. It is a translation of a translation, in which the beauties of Plato are strained off by a double process.
¶ e. To take out (something) from a liquid by straining.
This use seems hardly to occur exc. in strain out a gnat (after L. excolare), † strain a gnat, in Matt. xxiii. 24. (For the better known rendering of this text see 21.)
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxiii. 24. Ye blinde gydes which strayne out a gnat and swalowe a cammyll. [So also 1535 Coverdale, 1539 Cranmer, 1560 Geneva.]
1564. Brief Exam., *******b. None of them … did strayne a Gnat, and swallowe a Camell.
1582. N. T. (Rheims), Matt. xxiii. 24. That straine a gnat.
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxxi. (1602), 153. Precisians … In Loue doe swallow Cammels, whilest they nicely straine a Gnat.
1616. B. Parsons, Magistr. Charter, 23. Straine not out gnats, then, neither swallow downe camels.
1881. Bible (R.V.), Matt. xxiii. 24. Which strain out the gnat.
15. intr. for refl. To filter; to trickle. Also fig.
1588. Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., III. iv. I feele … all my entrals bath’d In blood that straineth from their orifex.
1594. Kyd, Cornelia, III. iii. 118. My griefe is lyke a Rock, whence (ceaseles) strayne Fresh springs of water at my weeping eyes.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 1. The Sea water passing or Strayning through the Sandes, leaueth the Saltnesse.
1725. Bradley’s Family Dict., s.v. Honey, ¶ 6. To the end that the Honey may strain gently through the Bag.
1897. F. T. Jane, Lordship, Passen, & We, v. 57. The speech that he made was a tidy long one…. It all strained out to telling us how that we should make up to the Radicals.
b. Of a stream: To flow, rare.
1622. Drayton, Poly-olb., I. 226. So Touuy straineth in. Ibid., VI. 343. But, backe, industrious Muse; obsequiously to bring Cleere Seuerne from her sourse; and tell how she doth straine Downe her delicious Dales.
1915. J. Buchan, Nelson’s Hist. War, III. xxi. 98. The river [Oder] in many places strains in mazy channels and backwaters among isles matted with dwarf willows and alders.
16. trans. To sow or let fall (seed) in a furrow (i.e., not broadcast). Also with in. local.
1733. W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 28. By this one Ploughing may be sown Beans, either strained in the Thoroughs,… or else by sowing the Beans all over the Field. Ibid., 80. Strain in the Acorns by a Man’s Hand in two Thoroughs. Ibid., 333. Peas are sowed by straining them in Thorough by Thorough.
IV. To exert oneself. (Cf. sense 12.)
17. refl. To exert oneself physically. In later use, to exert oneself so as to be in danger of injury. Now rare or Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 551. & þenne þe fyrst by-gonne to pleny & sayden þat þay had trauayled sore, Þese bot an oure hem con streny.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 233. Whan he streyneth hym to streche þe strawe is his schetes.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2809. Slike a seknes for-sothe is on my-selfe halden, Þat I ne may streyne me ne stere for stondis so hard.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xvii. 755. Syre Launcelot strayned hym self soo straytly with soo grete force to gete the hors forward that the buttom of his wound brast.
1538. St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 586. They do yet best, consideryng His Grace is yet tendir, that he shuld not streyn hym self … till he come above a yere of age.
1580. Hester, trans. Fioravanti’s Disc. Chirurg., 27 b. [For those ruptured.] Keepe thy house with as much ease as thou mayest, and strayne not thy selfe in any wise.
1640. Brome, Sparagus Garden, IV. vii. Hold, sir, hold, pray use this whistle for me, I dare not straine my selfe to winde it I.
fig. 1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 11. Sathan hath streyned himselfe too the vttermost too bring in such things.
18. intr. To make violent and continuous physical effort; to exert oneself to the utmost. Also with forward, together.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 349. Steedes stirred of þe stede strane men under.
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), B iij. After that these two knightes had longe ynough strained together.
1592. Arden of Feversham, IV. iv. 72. Come, Francklin, let vs strain to mend our pace.
1654. Vilvain, Enchir. Epigr., III. lxxix. 75 b. The six first Princes for the kingdom strained, But it by a slight horstrick Darius gained.
1704–13. Pope, Windsor Forest, 155. See the bold youth strain up the threat’ning steep.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 194. The patience with which he had seen a boatman on a canal strain against an adverse eddy.
1853. G. Johnston, Nat. Hist. E. Bord., I. 18. A man would strain to leap its current.
1862. [Pycroft], Cricket Tutor, 33. I am far from sanctioning the fashion of straining forward at balls which there is plenty of time to play back.
1893. Bridges, Founder’s Day, Eton, v. Or whether … dashing The oars of cedar skiffs, ye strain Round the rushes and home again.
b. spec. of a deer. (See quot. 1575.)
1575. Turberv., Venerie, 242. Termes of the Hart…. When he bounceth by vpon all foure, then he tryppeth, and when he runneth verie fast, then he streyneth.
1735. Somerville, Chase, III. 543. As o’er the Turf he [the stag] strains.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., I. vii. Nor nearer might the dogs attain, Nor farther might the quarry [stag] strain.
c. transf. of a thing viewed as endowed with power to make effort. Also with along.
1819. Byron, Juan, II. xiii. The wind sung, cordage strain’d, and sailors swore.
1858. in Merc. Marine Mag., V. 200. The ship straining along under a heavy press of sail.
1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s L., iii. [A] courtyard in which there grew two or three poplars, straining upwards to the light.
d. To pull forcibly (at a rope, leash, rein).
1791. Cowper, Odyss., XV. 353. Then, straining at the halyards, hoised the sail.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxiv. King Richard looked … at the Nubian and his dog; but the former moved not, nor did the latter strain at the leash.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), I. vi. 197. The blue-jackets strained in concert.
1881. Daily Tel., 28 Jan., 3/2. She [the brig] mounted the seas as though she were straining at a chain cable.
fig. 1808. Scott, Marmion, I. Introd. 92. When the frantic crowd amain Strain’d at subjection’s bursting rein.
† e. trans. To direct (one’s steps) hastily; to make (one’s passage) with effort. Obs.
1579. H. C., Forest of Fancy, F j b. Straight wayes my steppes I straind To bewties bower and there ariude.
1760. Ann. Reg., 24/2. In straining their passage thro’ morassy ground several soldiers dropped down on their march.
19. intr. To use one’s utmost endeavors; to strive vigorously. Const. to with inf., after, for, to (the attainment of some object).
1593. Drayton, Ecl., v. 152. Stay there good Rowland, whether art thou rapt, beyond the moone that striuest thus to strayne.
1607. Shaks., Timon, I. i. 143. This Gentleman of mine Hath seru’d me long: To build his Fortune, I will straine a little, For ’tis a Bond in men.
1683. W. Lloyd, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 188. I will strein hard to allow him 20 li a year.
1721. Swift, Wonder of Wonders, 6. When in Office, no one … does his Business better. He hath sometimes strained hard for an Honest Livelyhood.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 58, ¶ 3. They are unable … to strain in the race of competition, or to stand the shock of contest.
1797. Monthly Mag., III. 226. They exhibit the author as straining after novelty by eccentric distances, and by movements out of cathedral time.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. vi. 175. Both sides were straining to reconcile the most repulsive difficulties.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 41. 149. A mind open to all theories but straining after none.
1890. Goschen, Sp. Ho. Comm., 18 April, in Hansard, 908. In case of war every one strains for gold.
20. † a. To retch, heave, make efforts to vomit.
1679. V. Alsop, Melius Inquir., I. i. 41. They swallowed them [the articles] with some Reluctancy, and are now reaching and straining with many a sowre face, to disgorge … the Hook of the Article.
1727. Swift, Poison. E. Curll, Misc. 1732, III. 19. He … fell a vomiting and straining in an uncommon and unnatural Manner.
b. To make efforts to evacuate the bowels; more fully to strain at stool. Also with down.
1645. Milton, Colast., 13. I send them by his advice to sit upon the stool and strain.
1797. Underwood, Dis. Childhood (1799), III. 192. They [sc. young children] should be set on the chair, and not suffered to play until they have had an opening, for which they should strain.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 981. The patient should be directed to strain down, as this action will give a view of the interior of the anus. Ibid. (1899), VI. 839. Straining at stool may be the immediate cause of the rupture of a retinal vessel. Ibid., VII. 244. When the patient was made to strain, as at stool, the rate of flow of the fluid was doubled.
21. To strain at: to make a difficulty of ‘swallowing’ or accepting (something); to scruple at. Also (rarely), † to strain to do something.
This use is due to misunderstanding of the phrase ‘strain at a gnat’ in Matt. xxiii. 24. It has been asserted that ‘straine at’ in the Bible of 1611 is a misprint for ‘straine out,’ the rendering of earlier versions (see 14 e). But quots. 1583 and 1594 show that the translators of 1611 simply adopted a rendering that had already obtained currency. It was not a mistranslation, the meaning intended being ‘which strain the liquor if they find a gnat in it.’ The phrase, however, was early misapprehended (perh. already by Shaks. in quot. 1609), the verb being supposed to mean ‘to make violent effort’ (see sense 28).
[1583. Greene, Mamillia, II. B 3 b. Most vniustly straining at a gnat, and letting passe an elephant.
1594. J. King, On Jonas (1599), 284. They have verified the olde proverbe in strayning at gnats and swallowing downe camells.
1611. Bible, Matt. xxiii. 24. Ye blind guides, which straine at a gnat, and swallow a camel.]
1609. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. iii. 112 (Qo. 1). Vliss. I do not Straine [Fol. (hypermetrically) straine it] at the position, It is familiar, but at the authors drift.
1670. South, Serm. (1727), III. 110. He who hates his Enemy with a Cunning equal to his Malice, will not strain to do this or that good Turn for him, as long as it does not thwart … the main Design of his utter Subversion.
1677. R. Witty, Gout Raptures, To Rdr. A 5 b. If any man strain at the Verse which is not in the usual mode, let him read the Lyrick Poets in Greek, who I think have taken more liberty then I.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 546. The old Proverb, Strain at a Gnat, and swallow a Camel.
† V. 22. a. trans. To use (the voice) in song; to play upon (an instrument). b. To utter in song. c. intr. To sing. Obs.
Of uncertain origin; possibly developed from 10 d and 12. The related senses of STRAIN sb.2 (11–12) seem to be derived from this use of the verb, but have prob. reacted upon it.
a. 1580. Lyly, Euphues, Wks. 1902, II. 58. Vnder a sweete Arbour of Eglentine, the byrdes recording theyr sweete notes, hee also strayned his old pype, and thus beganne. Gentle-menne, [etc.].
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, C ij b. Hark how the strumpet can straine her voice, to delighte with her deceite.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XI. ii. First let the priests … With sacred hymnes their holy voices straine.
1601. W. Percy, Cuckqueanes & Cuckolds Errants, III. v. (Roxb.), 40. Then let the Goldsmith now for to streyne him, while I my self beare, to him, a Burden.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. v. Intreat the musick straine their instruments With a slight touch.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XV. ccxc. As to the Confines of the spheres they drew, His Harp and Voice their Chanter strein’d as high.
b. 1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 66. With this the Shepheard was mute…: but at length … to … make his olde Misiris some new musicke, he strained foorth this dittie.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. v. 28. It is the Larke that sings so out of tune, Straining harsh Discords, and vnpleasing Sharpes.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XI. cclxiii. He … strein’d his Ejulation To Horror’s tune.
c. 1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., V. First let their voyces strain for musicks price.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., II. 7. But as my subiect serues, so hie or lowe to straine. Ibid., XII. Argt. The Muse … Relating many glorious deeds, Of Guy of Warwick’s fight doth straine.
