Middle English Dictionary Entry
streit(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | streit(e adv. Also straiet, straȝt, streght, (16th cent.) streat; sup. straiste. |
| Etymology | From streit adj.; cp. AF estreit, estrait adv. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Tightly, tight, fast; also in fig. context; (b)tautly, taut.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.457 : Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, Ful streite yteyd.
- c1400 Verse in Med.St.33 (Cmb Ii.3.8)p.73 : He cryth and wepyth, streyt ibowode [read: ibownde] in clowtys and cloþys wrappyd and wownde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.44 : Some of hem gan ful streite lace Her doublettis.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1542 : Polymyte ful streght enbraced was In the hyde of a feerce lyoun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1689 : They..ofte ykist and streite [vr. streyght] in armes folde.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.3.22 : He fastnede in to the wombe of the kyng so strongli that the pomel..suede the yrun in the wounde, and was holdun streite [L stringeretur] in the thickeste fatnesse with ynne.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)33b/b : And..aboue þer be bounden a pece of lede..straite [L stricte] & faste wiþ a bendel of 2 endez.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)19/7 : Men & wymmen..wiþ curious aray are streyt sett, as clooþ vpon þe teyntour.
- a1450 12 PTrib.(3) (Bod 423)87/4-5 : As muchel as thou felist the of thilke bondes more streight [F estroit] ybounde, so muchel thou hast God moor strayt ybounde to the.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)514/29 : Evur þai band hym strayter and bete hym to he was nerehand dead.
- c1460 My fayr lady (Hrl 2255)p.201 : Hire crowpe doth the semys shrede, Whan they so streyght lasyd been.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)65b/b : Whanne þis plastre haþ cauȝt good fastnynge, þanne sewe þat clooþ so streite þat þe lippis of þe woundis come togideris.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.322 : Fals coueytise byndith hem so streyte at þe herte þat þey han non lykynge in Goddis lawe.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)31 : Her blessid body was clothid in a mantell of blake, with a standing colar closid strayt till hir nek.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)539 : Sodeynly by weet constreynyd..Was the ground to close hys superfyciall face So strayte that to scape Eolus had no space.
b
- c1390(?a1325) LChart.Chr.A (Vrn)643/78 : To a piler I was I-piht..And wasschen in myn owne blode, And strayte [vrr. strayet, strayste] I-streynet on þe Rode.
- a1400 Crist made to man (Htrn 512)8 : Þi loueliche hondis loue haþ to-rent And þi liþe arme wel streit itent.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)206 : He was thus sprede o-brode one þe crosse more straite þan any parchemyne-skyne es sprede one þe harowe.
- c1450 Bk.GGrace (Eg 2006)423/6 : I was for the so streynedde ande streyȝte drawene on the crosse.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)159b/a : Take a twyned þred & lete þe pacient holde þe toon ende bitwixe hise teeþ..and holde þe toþir ende of þe þred streit wiþ þin hond þat it mowe sowne wel.
2.
Narrowly; cutten ~, to make a narrow incision in (a vein).
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)300/28 : Þis veine mote be kut large & not to depe; If þat veine be kut streit, þan ofte tyme it makiþ an enpostym.
3.
(a) In a crowded fashion or condition; (b) close, near; cutten ~, to crop (vines) closely.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.52 : But yowr glorye that is so narwe and so streyt ithrungen into so litel bowndes, how mochel conteneth it in largesse and in greet doynge?
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.21 : For so streite [F estroit] here, sire, we Sitte..and þat voide place myhte vs plese.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)160 : Thei rode forth the softe pas straite and clos.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.134 : To kitte a vyne is thingis iij tattende..kitte hem streit [L strictius] aftir thi good vyndage And, grapis fewe yhad, let kitte hem large.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2815 : By the Regions of Rene rode þai ferre, Streit by the stremys of the stithe londys.
4.
(a) In accordance with a strict standard (esp. a standard of religious observance or conduct), strictly, observantly; also, devotedly [1st quot.]; (b) sternly, severely; (c) exactly, precisely; (d) firmly, stringently; holden covenaunt (ordinaunce) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4280 : If that a man wol love streite, The womman hath him nothing bounde.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.26 : In preyours & penaunce putten hem manye, Al for loue of oure lord lyuede wel streite In hope to haue heueneriche blisse.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)6/14 : Þa þat ere fraward and recles, Lede þaim þe straiter.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1446 : The hard religioun, whech was kept ful fast And ful streit, is now larged sum dele Because þat men are not disposed so wele As þei were sumtyme.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)5/30 : And we halde our brethir so strayte in aw þatt þai com to no myrth nor no sporte, we may lighlie cauce þaim to breke þer ordur.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)95/24 : Þei desired þat he schuld sumwhat tempir þe gret hardnesse of religion and suffir hem not to be kept so streith as þei wer be-for.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)36 : Þei welun þat þei kepe more specialy þe þings and þe biddingis enioynid of men, and streytar þan biddingis and þingis enioynid of God.
b
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)208/16 : Hou mych lengare that god abydez vs that we amende vs, so mych the streyter schal hee deme vs if we do rechlesly.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.84 : Tuenty ȝere had he þe land & nien moneth streite.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1424 : What synne hyt ys, and how I-wroȝt, To wyte redyly, spare þow noght..Lechery, robbery, or monslaȝt, Byd hym telle euen straȝt.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9484 : Nu has him sathanas in wald..To wais seruis straitt [Göt: straitly] he him eild.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.139 : Henry..wild þat his conant were holden stable & streite.
- a1425(?c1384) Wycl.Church (Bod 788)359 : Us þinkiþ þat þe Chirche shulde here holde þe ordenaunce of Crist, and ever þe streiter þat it helde þat, evere þe betir it were to it.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)80 : He was putte to be kepte in the..Toure and streyte commaunded vnder grete peyn yevyn vnto the seyd Scot to kepe him..seurly and nat to lette him oute off the..Toure with oute commandement off the kyng.
5.
(a) In close confinement, in secure custody; securely; enselen ~, to seal (sth.) securely; kepen ~ from, keep (sb.) strictly away from (sth.); (b) closely, carefully.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2129 : By Pyramus and Thesbe may men lere, Thogh they were kept ful longe streyte [vrr. streighte, streiȝt] oueral, They been acorded rownyng thurgh a wal.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.214 : Þe chartre was forth brouht with wittnes enseled streit.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1199 : Þay stoken so strayt þat þay ne stray myȝt A fote fro þat forselet to forray no goudes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)183/32 : This clooþ of Cristis passioun..myȝte neuere be take fro hym..but he kepte it so streit to hym þat he loste his bodily liif þerfore.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)723 : Maydenes been ykept, for jelosye, Ful streyte [vr. stryte], lest they diden som folye.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)16311 : Haue þys y þyn herte ful streit, How þey haue don vs many deseit.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)6746 : Stylle he sett..thenking How best hym-self he myght Slee..His frendys had hym so in wayte Fro wepens kept hym So strayte [vr. stratte] That hys purpose myght not be..parformed.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)433/8 : He toke La Beale Isode home with hym and kepte her strayte, that by no meane she myght never wryght nor sende.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)86 : I am now take &..Hold streite, & I may nat flee.
- a1500 Mandev.(3) (Rwl D.99)429 : It was wonte to be a fair citee..but now the mooste partie is distroyed with Sarazeyns, but ȝit they kepe the port streyt [BodeMuse: streytly; L multum curiose] for cristen enemyes.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)18/143 : Thus strayte, lady, hath sir Daunger laced me in stockes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)615 : I hete you..þat I you helpe shall The flese for to fecche..And withstond all the stoure þat it strait yemys.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3814 : He durst come oute on no party..So was he beseged streyte.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6146 : Þerfore hij biþenkeþ hem streyte By queyntise to don oþer disceyte.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)23815 : A sege he settes to þe cite; He segede it strate allabout, Þat naman might cum in ne out.
6.
Stingily, avariciously, greedily.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.261 : The more he hath of worldes good, The more he wolde it kepe streyte, And evere mor and mor coveite.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5328 : Coueytyse ys þe fryst vyce; Þat streyte ys holde, y halte auaryce.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5338 : Auaryce ys nygun haldyng strayte.
7.
Oppressively, so as to cause hardship; gon ~, to go ill, go hard; purseuen (seken) ~, pursue (sb., a fox) hard.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1374 : Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite..of Sorcerie..non ende mai be good.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4042 : Thi fader, whil he was alyve, And myhte bothe grante and pryve Upon the werkes whiche he hadde, The comun poeple streite ladde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24849 : Strangli strait [Frf: harde] þan war þai stadd..For þai war neuer in parel mar.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.79 : Bot comen is William quik, & sekes þam fulle streit.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.261 : Alle þis þraldam þat now on Inglond es, þorgh Normanz it cam..& if þei now powere had of vs..Streiter we suld be lad.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)880 : Þus þay þrobled and þrong and þrwe umbe his erez And distresed hym wonder strayt wyth strenkþe in þe prece.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)178/18 : Þanne þei schullen chacen him & pursuen him so streyte till þat he come to the same place þat he cam fro.
- (1460) Paston1.164 : He saythe it schuld go streythe with ȝow wythe-owt ȝowre wittnesse were rythe sofycyent.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1666 : Yff yee have nede to eny maner thing And it be in my power..It shuld go riȝt wondir streyte..But yee it had in hast.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1112/19 : Sir Pelleas and many mo..faught uppon another party and hylde the Kynge wyth the Hondred Knyghtes and the kynge of Northumbirlonde ryght strayte.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)406/312 : The nynthe day..hilles shall fall and..stonne turne to sand through Goddes mayne, so streat men shall be stadd.
8.
Turbulently, violently; forcefully.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1638 : His fader grete werres hadde With Rome, whiche he streite ladde..As he which hath ynowh knythode, And ofte hem hadde sore grieved.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)95/10 : The yonglynges..wer sore greuyd that thay myght not ouer to the cite that was ham so nyghe, for the watyr that was to depe and so Streyte rynnynge betwen, and also so stony by the grounde.