v. Forms: 6 streyghten, streyten, 6–7 streiten, 6–8 streighten, 6–9 straighten. 7 straicten, strayten, 7– straiten. [f. STRAIT a. + -EN5.]
1. trans. To render strait or narrow; to narrow, contract (an opening, a passage, road, stream, etc.). Now somewhat rare.
1552. Huloet, Streyghten or make narrow, angusto.
1603. Stow, Surv., 84. The number of … carts and coatches, more then hath beene accustomed, the streetes and lanes being streightned, must needes be daungerous.
1604. E. G[rimstone], trans. D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. xviii. 176. The river being there straightened, and forced betwixt two high steepe rockes: the water falles directly downe.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 3. An ancient grant … that a way leading to their common should not be streightened.
1660. Boyle, New Exper. Phys. Mech., xxii. (1682), 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. Salmon, Doron Med., 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, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 43. Trees on the Sides, coming to … grow thicker, will in Time … streighten a Walk very considerably.
1715. Desaguliers, Fires Impr., 51. The Funnel … shou’d have several divisions to cut the Wind. Some have indeed streighten’d this Passage.
c. 1804. Jane Austen, Watsons, in Leigh, Mem. (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.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), III. 14. The throat is rough and straightened from the second day of the eruption.
1895. Petrie, Egypt. Tales, Ser. I. 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.
transf. 1638. Ford, Fancies, IV. i. 49. We shall flourish. Feed high henceforth, man, and no more be streightend Within the limits of an emptie patience.
† b. To close the ranks of (an army). Obs.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, 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.
a. 1609. Sir F. Vere, Comm. (1657), 95. The water now grew very high, so as both we and they were forced to streighten our front.
† c. To straiten one’s hand: to become niggardly. Obs.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., I. 251. My friends … had already cast mee off, streightning more and more their hand towards mee.
† d. Phrase, To straiten (a person’s) quarters. (Cf. sense 4 b.) Obs.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 237. The winning of Ciceter … which, being upon the edge of Wiltshire, Barkshire, and Oxfordshire, shrewdly straitened the King’s quarters.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, II. x. 395. Distressing him by straitening his quarters.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxx. (1787), III. 150. The Barbarian was gradually invested, on every side, by the troops of the West…; his quarters were straightened; his convoys were intercepted.
2. intr. To become narrow, to narrow.
1601. Holland, Pliny, V. xxxii. I. 114. Being past this gulfe, the sea beginneth to streighten again, and the land to meet neere together.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., II. 117. This arme of the Nile is as broad at Rosetta as Thames about Tilbury, streightning by little and little.
1731. T. Gordon, Tacitus, Agricola, 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, Milit. Jrnl. Amer. Rev., 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.].
† 3. trans. To tighten (a knot, cord, bonds). Obs.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), II. xvi. 28. You have much streightned that knot of love which hath bin long tied between us.
1659. Milton, Treat. Civ. Power, 58. As well may be loos’n that which God hath strait’nd, or strait’n that which God hath loos’nd, as [etc.].
1741. ‘T. Betterton,’ Hist. Engl. Stage, v. 66. Shewing the Teeth, and straitening the Lips on them, shews Indignation and Anger.
1742. Pope, Dunc., IV. 29. Morality … Gasps, as they straiten at each end the cord.
† b. To render more strict or rigorous. Obs.
1751. H. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 1 May. On this his confinement was straitened.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), III. 46. Her Mother’s wickedness giving occasion the more to streighten her education.
4. To confine in or force into a narrow space; to hem in closely. Also with in. Now rare.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, 79. Vortimer … so streightned the Saxons in this Ile…, that for a colour they sent Vortiger to treate with him of peace.
1605[?]. Drayton, Poems Lyr. & Past., Man in Moone, H 3. Wherin you might view A sea that somwhat straytned by the land, Two furious tydes raise their ambitious hand One gainst the other.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 216. They seemed … to be like vnto straw, which … if you restraine and straiten it,… it will shoot it selfe out.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 115. Waters, when they beat vpon the Shore, or are straitned (as in the falls of Bridges;) … giue a Roaring Noise.
1637–8. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 119. Ye wind could not there be straightned by Clare Hall, wch scarce reacheth to ye fourth part of yt height.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 123. The chiefest mountains which straighten in this City and valley are two.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 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. Milton, P. L., I. 776. So thick the aerie crowd Swarm’d and were straitn’d.
1684. Contempl. St. Man, II. vi. (1699), 196. The Bodies of the Damned … shall be so straitned and crowded together in that Infernal Dungeon.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 33. The Heavenly Plant is too much streightned and bound up to thrive, and cannot shoot forth its Branches very far.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. xvi. 311. The small tribe of Dan, already straitened between the mountains and the sea.
b. said of a hostile army.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 944. Who … with all speed compassed in his enemies, and straightning them on both sides, tooke some of them alive … and [etc.].
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 323. If this be our condition, thus to dwell In narrow circuit strait’nd by a Foe.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, liv. § 47. VIII. 509. Finding himself daily more closely straitened by the insurgents [he] was obliged to retire.
5. To narrow or restrict the freedom, power or privileges of (a person). arch.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. iv. (1912), 25. 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, Micah ii. 7. Is the Spirit of the Lord straitned [marg. or, shortened]?
1619. Sanderson, Serm. Ad Clerum, i. (1632), 24. The liberty of a Christian … is then infringed, when the Conscience is bound and streitned, by imposing vpon it an opinion of doctrinall Necessity.
a. 1653. Binning, Sinner’s Sanct., xiv. Wks. (1735), 233. Was it the Satisfaction of his Justice that straitned him, and put a Necessity of this upon him?
1701. Sir D. Hume, Diary Parl. Scot. (Bannatyne Club), 52. What was moved seemed to him to straiten the King…. So this was let fall.
1858. J. Martineau, Stud. Christ., 108. Our spirit … is so straitened by the bands of sin … that there is no freedom.
† b. To deprive partially, abridge of (a possession or privilege). Obs.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 8 b. And also the lordes haue enclosed a great parte of their waste groundes and streytened their tenauntes of their commyns therin.
1621. Elsing, Debates Ho. Lords (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.
1647. Howell, Lett. (1650), III. xv. 27. The King is streightned of that liberty he formerly had in the Isle of Wight.
† c. To restrict from doing something. Obs.
1622. Relat. Engl. Plant. Plymouth, New Eng., 65. Some who out of doubt in tendernesse of conscience,… are straitned and doe straiten others, from going to forraine plantations.
† d. To bind stringently. Obs.
1652. Howell, Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, 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.
1645. Pagitt, Heresiogr. (ed. 2), 46. Because else the grace of God to his people is now … lessened and straitned more then before.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, iv. § 7 (1676), 237. Let not young beginners in Religion … straiten their liberty by vows of long continuance.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., II. ix. (1712), 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. Addison, Pres. St. 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. The Divine Providence … so streightens their Increase, that they [Tigers] may not be too offensive and destructive, either of Man or Beast.
1778. Hartley, Swedenborg’s Heaven & Hell (1851), 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. Cowper, Retirement, 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-Sax., IV. v. (1807), I. 276. A vigilant armed peasantry … secured the property of the country, and straitened the supplies of the invader.
1855. Milman, Lat. Christ., IX. ii. (1864), V. 212. They declared that they had no design to straiten the rights of the Holy See.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, I. 34. The conquest of the shores of the Bosphorus … would straiten the range of England’s authority in the world.
1868. Rogers, Pol. Econ., xv. (1876), 211. It is supposed, and generally with reason,… that profits must fall, and so business must be straitened.
1871. Morley, Carlyle, in Crit. Misc., Ser. I. (1878), 163. It is a question of temperament how violently either of them straitens and distorts the normal faculties of vision.
7. To reduce to straits; to subject to privation, hardship or distress. Often said of besiegers, sometimes with mixture of sense 4 b.
1611. Bible, Jer. xix. 9. The siege and straitnesse, wherewith their enemies … shall straiten them.
1645. in Verney Mem. (1904), I. 400. Chester is certainly very much straitened, and if not suddenly relieved doubtless will be lost.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Wars, 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. Hume, Hist. Eng. Ho. Tudor, Edw. VI., ii. I. 323. De Thermes … took the fortress of Broughty, and straitened the English at Haddington.
1778. Phil. Surv. S. Irel., 324. With a threat to streighten them if they refused to comply.
1838. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., II. xi. III. 101. The viceroy … endeavoured to straiten the garrison there by desolating the surrounding country.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, I. xxxii. 267. I am sore straitened, and brought down into the very dust by misfortune.
† b. In passive, To be at a loss, to be ‘hard put to it.’ Obs.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., III. vi. 101. The Parliament … were much straightned how to proceed in the businesse, with the 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 arch.).
1620. Sanderson, Serm. Ad Pop., ii. (1632), 291. I will not … straiten my selfe of time for the delivery of what I am now purposed to speake.
1634. 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. Stanley, Hist. Philos., I. xi. (1687), 29/1. These young Men, streightned in time, underwent the Yoke, and drew the Chariot of their Mother forty five Stadia.
1661. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 60. We are as much straitned in paper and time at present as we shall be always large in affection and service to you.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 12. Staires ought to be so long, that the Attendants on each side … nay not be streightned for roome.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Wars, 219. That by shutting up their Haven, he might straighten the Townsmen of Provision.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 218. But streighten’d in my Space, I must forsake This Task; for others afterwards to take.
1706. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., II. 260. Finding themselves straitned in time,… requested [etc.].
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng. to Hen. VII. (1762), 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. Sk., Ser. II. I. i. (1873), 6. If straitened for provisions, they [the Tartars] ate the chargers which carried them to battle.
d. To render short of money.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 457. The Romans being straitned in the First Punic War, lower’d their Brass Money Five parts in Six.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 295, ¶ 1. The Education of these my Children … streightens me so much, that [etc.].
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 508. My Nephew furnishing me with … a Letter of Credit … that I might not be straiten’d whatever might happen.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, IV. 320. It shall value him fifty pound a-year more to his income, if I straighten myself never so much.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages, viii. III. (1819), III. 91. The king, in short, was more straightened than ever. His distresses gave no small advantage to the commons.
1857. Kingsley, Two Y. Ago, xxv. 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. Froude, Hist. Eng., 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.
† 8. To hamper, impede in action. Obs.
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 (Chetham Soc.), 87. I preached but was a little streitned by a cold.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 53. So Inartificial is Art when she is pinched and streitned in her Workmanship.
a. 1683. Owen, 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. 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.
Hence Straitening vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
† Straitening circumstances (obs.) = straitened circumstances.
1598. Stow, Surv., 231. After that is Grubstreete, more then halfe thereof to the straightning of the streete.
1646. H. P., Medit. Seige, 130. When a fort or Garrison cannot be gotten neither by treatie, nor by streightning, the last attempt is commonly by storming.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., ix. 465. Separating them from those circumstantiating and straitening conditions of time and place.
1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 70. Nor obvious Hill, Nor streit’ning Vale,… nor Stream divides Thir perfet ranks.
1692. Locke, Consid. Lower. Interest, 115. The Landed Man finds himself aggrieved, by the falling of his Rents, and the streightning of his Fortune.
a. 1732. 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. 498–9. 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.
1849. Ruskin, Seven Lamps, i. § 11. 21. The nice balance between the straitening of effort or enthusiasm on the one hand, and vainly casting it away upon the other.
