Straiter

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Strait \Strait\, a. [Compar. {Straiter}; superl. {Straitest}.]
     [OE. straight, streyt, streit, OF. estreit, estroit, F.
     ['e]troit, from L. strictus drawn together, close, tight, p.
     p. of stringere to draw tight. See 2nd {Strait}, and cf.
     {Strict}.]
     1. Narrow; not broad.


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              Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
              leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
                                                    --Matt. vii.
                                                    14.
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              Too strait and low our cottage doors. --Emerson.
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     2. Tight; close; closely fitting. --Shak.
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     3. Close; intimate; near; familiar. [Obs.] "A strait degree
        of favor." --Sir P. Sidney.
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     4. Strict; scrupulous; rigorous.
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              Some certain edicts and some strait decrees. --Shak.
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              The straitest sect of our religion.   --Acts xxvi. 5
                                                    (Rev. Ver.).
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     5. Difficult; distressful; straited.
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              To make your strait circumstances yet straiter.
                                                    --Secker.
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     6. Parsimonious; niggargly; mean. [Obs.]
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              I beg cold comfort, and you are so strait,
              And so ingrateful, you deny me that.  --Shak.
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