Middle English Dictionary Entry
overstreit adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | overstreit adj. |
| Etymology | From streit adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Too precise, too rigorous; (b) too perilous, too severe.
Associated quotations
a
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)222 : Ouerstreite audite is like tencombre me Or dome be youen.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)30 : I charge the, sche said..loke thou never kis whoman; And my seid saule was sore astonyed with that commandment, thinking hit ouer streyt.
b
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)13270 : Til Arthur þey..telde..wel of þeyr deseit, How þeir hap was ner ouer-streit, & how Vtred was þer socour.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)33/13 : But for þe mouþe of þe vlcere was ouer streit, first I put aboue of vnguento ruptorio of calce viue & sape for to large þe mouþe of þe fistule.
Note: Needs new gloss - this is not fig. like the quots. we had in the entry, but literally = over narrow, excessively narrow.--per MJW
- a1500(a1471) Ashby APP (Cmb Mm.4.42)253 : Ne to liberal for no frendlynesse Ne ouer streit for noo necessite.
Note: Supplemental material
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.28va (2.2) : Gode tokenes in seke man ar þise: myȝtihede in kynde..gode mynde; skilful slepe; appetit to som fode; noȝt ouerstreyt onde; [etc.].
Note: ?New sense. Editor's gloss: 'of breathing: overly restricted, excessively difficult'.