Chapter 1647

4. (Pron.) Force of utterance expended upon words or syllables. Stress is in English the chief element in accent and is one of the most important in emphasis. See Guide to pronunciation , §§ 31-35.

5. (Scots Law) Distress; the act of distraining; also, the thing distrained.

Stress of voice , unusual exertion of the voice. -- Stress of weather , constraint imposed by continued bad weather; as, to be driven back to port by stress of weather . -- To lay stress upon , to attach great importance to; to emphasize. "Consider how great a stress is laid upon this duty." Atterbury . -- To put stress upon , ∨ To put to a stress , to strain.

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Stress <Xpage=1425>

Stress (?) , v. t. 1. To press; to urge; to distress; to put to difficulties. [R.]

Spenser.

2. To subject to stress, pressure, or strain.

Stressful <Xpage=1425>

Stress"ful (?) , a. Having much stress.

Rush.

Stretch <Xpage=1425>

Stretch (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stretched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Stretching .] [OE. strecchen , AS. streccan ; akin to D. strekken , G. strecken , OHG. strecchen , Sw. str\'84cka , Dan. str\'91kke ; cf. AS. str\'91ck , strec , strong, violent, G. strack straight; of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to E. strong . Cf. Straight .] 1. To reach out; to extend; to put forth.

And stretch forth his neck long and small. Chaucer.

I in conquest stretched mine arm. Shak.

2. To draw out to the full length; to cause to extend in a straight line; as, to stretch a cord or rope .

3. To cause to extend in breadth; to spread; to expand; as, to stretch cloth; to stretch the wings .

4. To make tense; to tighten; to distend forcibly.

The ox hath therefore stretched his yoke in vain. Shak.

5. To draw or pull out to greater length; to strain; as, to stretch a tendon or muscle .

Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve. Doddridge.

6. To exaggerate; to extend too far; as, to stretch the truth; to stretch one's credit .

They take up, one day, the most violent and stretched prerogative. Burke.

Stretch <Xpage=1425>

Stretch , v. i. 1. To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both; to spread; to reach; as, the iron road stretches across the continent; the lake stretches over fifty square miles .

As far as stretcheth any ground. Gower.

2. To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs; as, the lazy man yawns and stretches .

3. To be extended, or to bear extension, without breaking, as elastic or ductile substances.

The inner membrane . . . because it would stretch and yield, remained umbroken. Boyle.

4. To strain the truth; to exaggerate; as, a man apt to stretch in his report of facts . [Obs. or Colloq.]

5. (Naut.) To sail by the wind under press of canvas; as, the ship stretched to the eastward .

Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Stretch out , an order to rowers to extend themselves forward in dipping the oar.

Stretch <Xpage=1425>

Stretch , n. 1. Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination .

By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain. Dryden.

Those put a lawful authority upon the stretch , to the abuse of yower, under the color of prerogative. L'Estrange.

2. A continuous line or surface; a continuous space of time; as, grassy stretches of land .

A great stretch of cultivated country. W. Black.

But all of them left me a week at a stretch . E. Eggleston.

3. The extent to which anything may be stretched.

Quotations, in their utmost stretch , can signify no more than that Luther lay under severe agonies of mind. Atterbury.

This is the utmost stretch that nature can. Granville.

4. (Naut.) The reach or extent of a vessel's progress on one tack; a tack or board.

5. Course; direction; as, the stretch of seams of coal .

To be on the stretch , to be obliged to use one's utmost powers. -- Home stretch . See under Home , a.

Stretcher <Xpage=1425>

Stretch"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, stretches.

2. (Masonry) A brick or stone laid with its longer dimension in the line of direction of the wall.

Gwilt.

3. (Arch.) A piece of timber used in building.

4. (Naut.) (a) A narrow crosspiece of the bottom of a boat against which a rower braces his feet. (b) A crosspiece placed between the sides of a boat to keep them apart when hoisted up and griped.

Dana.

5. A litter, or frame, for carrying disabled, wounded, or dead persons.

6. An overstretching of the truth; a lie. [Slang]

7. One of the rods in an umbrella, attached at one end to one of the ribs, and at the other to the tube sliding upon the handle.

8. An instrument for stretching boots or gloves.

9. The frame upon which canvas is stretched for a painting.

Stretching <Xpage=1425>

Stretch"ing (?) , a. & n. from Stretch , v.

Stretching course (Masonry) , a course or series of stretchers. See Stretcher , 2. Britton.

Stretto <Xpage=1425>

Stret"to (?) , n. [It., close or contacted, pressed.] (Mus.) (a) The crowding of answer upon subject near the end of a fugue. (b) In an opera or oratorio, a coda, or winding up, in an accelerated time. [Written also stretta .]

Strew <Xpage=1425>

Strew (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Strewed (?) ; p. p. strewn (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Strewing .] [OE. strewen , strawen , AS. strewian , stre\'a2wian ; akin to Ofries. strewa , OS. strewian , D. strooijen , G. streuen , OHG. strewen , Icel. str\'be , Sw. str\'94 , Dan. str\'94e , Goth. straujan , L. sternere , stratum , Gr. <?/, <?/, Skr. st<?/ . \'fb166. Cf. Stratum , Straw , Street .] 1. To scatter; to spread by scattering; to cast or to throw loosely apart; -- used of solids, separated or separable into parts or particles; as, to strew seed in beds; to strew sand on or over a floor; to strew flowers over a grave.

And strewed his mangled limbs about the field. Dryden.

On a principal table a desk was open and many papers [were] strewn about. Beaconsfield.

2. To cover more or less thickly by scattering something over or upon; to cover, or lie upon, by having been scattered; as, they strewed the ground with leaves; leaves strewed the ground.

The snow which does the top of Pindus strew . Spenser.

Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain? Pope.

3. To spread abroad; to disseminate.

She may strew dangerous conjectures. Shak.

Strewing <Xpage=1425>

Strew"ing (?) , n. 1. The act of scattering or spreading.

2. Anything that is, or may be, strewed; -- used chiefly in the plural.

Shak.

Strewment <Xpage=1425>

Strew"ment (?) , n. Anything scattered, as flowers for decoration. [Obs.]

Shak.

Strewn <Xpage=1425>

Strewn (?) , p. p. of Strew .

Stria <Xpage=1425>

Stri"a (?) , n. ; pl. Stri\'91 (#) . [L., a furrow, channel, hollow.] 1. A minute groove, or channel; a threadlike line, as of color; a narrow structural band or line; a striation; as, the stri\'91 , or groovings, produced on a rock by a glacier passing over it; the stri\'91 on the surface of a shell; a stria of nervous matter in the brain .

2. (Arch.) A fillet between the flutes of columns, pilasters, or the like.

Oxf. Gloss.

Striate <Xpage=1425>

Stri"ate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Striated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Striating .] [See Striate , a. ] To mark with stria\'91. " Striated longitudinally."

Owen.

Striate, Striated <Xpage=1425>

Stri"ate (?) , Stri"a*ted (?) , a. [L. striatus , p.p. of striare to furnish with channels, from stria a channel.] Marked with stria\'91, or fine grooves, or lines of color; showing narrow structural bands or lines; as, a striated crystal; striated muscular fiber .

Striation <Xpage=1425>

Stri*a"tion (?) , n. 1. The quality or condition of being striated.

2. A stria; as, the striations on a shell .

Striatum <Xpage=1425>

Stri*a"tum (?) , n. [NL.] (Anat.) The corpus striatum.

Striature <Xpage=1425>

Stri"a*ture (?) , n. [L. striatura .] A stria.

Strich <Xpage=1425>

Strich (?) , n. [Cf. L. strix , strigs , a streech owl.] (Zo\'94l.) An owl. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Strick <Xpage=1425>

Strick , n. A bunch of hackled flax prepared for drawing into slivers.

Knight.

Stricken <Xpage=1425>

Strick"en (?) , p. p. & a. from Strike . 1. Struck; smitten; wounded; as, the stricken deer . [See Strike , n. ]

2. Worn out; far gone; advanced. See Strike , v. t. , 21.

Abraham was old and well stricken in age. Gen. xxiv. 1.

3. Whole; entire; -- said of the hour as marked by the striking of a clock. [Scot.]

He persevered for a stricken hour in such a torrent of unnecessary tattle. Sir W. Scott.

Speeches are spoken by the stricken hour, day after day, week, perhaps, after week. Bayne.

Strickle <Xpage=1425>

Stric"kle (?) , n. [See Strike .] 1. An instrument to strike grain to a level with the measure; a strike.

2. An instrument for whetting scythes; a rifle.

3. (Founding) An instrument used for smoothing the surface of a core.

4. (Carp. & Mason.) A templet; a pattern.

5. An instrument used in dressing flax. [Prov. Eng.]

Strickler <Xpage=1425>

Stric"kler (?) , n. See Strickle .

Strickless <Xpage=1425>

Strick"less , n. See Strickle . [Prov. Eng.]

Strict <Xpage=1425>

Strict (?) , a. [ Compar. Stricter (?) ; superl. Strictest .] [L. strictus , p.p. of stringere to draw or bind tight, to strain. See Strain , and cf. Strait , a. ] 1. Strained; drawn close; tight; as, a strict embrace; a strict ligature .

Dryden.

2. Tense; not relaxed; as, a strict fiber .

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict watch; to pay strict attention .

Shak.

It shall be still in strictest measure. Milton.

4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous; as, very strict in observing the Sabbath . "Through the strict senteries."

Milton.

5. Rigidly; interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted; as, to understand words in a strict sense .

6. (Bot.) Upright, or straight and narrow; -- said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.

Syn. -- Exact; accurate; nice; close; rigorous; severe. -- Strict , Severe . Strict , applied to a person, denotes that he conforms in his motives and acts to a principle or code by which he is bound; severe is strict with an implication often, but not always, of harshness. Strict is opposed to lax ; severe is opposed to gentle .

And rules as strict his labored work confine, As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line. Pope.

Soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve: - "What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe !" Milton.

The Strict Observance , &or; Friars of the Strict Observance . (R. C. Ch.) See Observance .

Striction <Xpage=1425>

Stric"tion (?) , n. [L. strictio . See Stringent .] The act of constricting, or the state of being constricted.

Line of striction (Geom.) , the line on a skew surface that cuts each generator in that point of it that is nearest to the succeeding generator.

Strictly <Xpage=1425>

Strict"ly , adv. In a strict manner; closely; precisely.

Strictness <Xpage=1425>

Strict"ness , n. Quality or state of being strict.

Stricture <Xpage=1425>

Stric"ture (?) , n. [L. strictura a contraction, from stringere , strictum , to draw tight: cf. F. stricture . See Strict .] 1. Strictness. [Obs.]

A man of stricture and firm abstinence. Shak.

2. A stroke; a glance; a touch. [Obs.]

Sir M. Hale.

3. A touch of adverse criticism; censure.

[I have] given myself the liberty of these strictures by way of reflection on all and every passage. Hammond.

4. (Med.) A localized morbid contraction of any passage of the body. Cf. Organic stricture , and Spasmodic stricture , under Organic , and Spasmodic .

Arbuthnot.

Strictured <Xpage=1425>

Stric"tured (?) , a. (Med.) Affected with a stricture; as, a strictured duct .

Strid <Xpage=1425>

Strid (?) , n. [See Stride .] A narrow passage between precipitous rocks or banks, which looks as if it might be crossed at a stride. [Prov. Eng.]

Howitt.

This striding place is called the Strid . Wordsworth.

Stride <Xpage=1425>

Stride (?) , v. t. [ imp. Strode (?) ( Obs . Strid (<?/) ); p. p. Stridden (?) ( Obs. Strid ); p. pr. & vb. n. Striding .] [AS. str\'c6dan to stride, to strive; akin to LG. striden , OFries. str\'c6da to strive, D. strijden to strive, to contend, G. streiten , OHG. str\'c6tan ; of uncertain origin. Cf. Straddle .] 1. To walk with long steps, especially in a measured or pompous manner.

Mars in the middle of the shining shield Is graved, and strides along the liquid field. Dryden.

2. To stand with the legs wide apart; to straddle.

Stride <Xpage=1425>

Stride , v. t. 1. To pass over at a step; to step over. "A debtor that not dares to stride a limit."

Shak.

2. To straddle; to bestride.

I mean to stride your steed. Shak.

Stride <Xpage=1425>

Stride , n. The act of stridding; a long step; the space measured by a long step; as, a masculine stride .

Pope.

God never meant that man should scale the heavens By strides of human wisdom. Cowper.

Strident <Xpage=1425>

Stri"dent (?) , a. [L. stridens , -entis , p.pr. of stridere to make a grating or creaking noise.] Characterized by harshness; grating; shrill. "A strident voice."

Thackeray.

Stridor <Xpage=1425>

Stri"dor (?) , n. [L., from stridere to make any harsh, grating, or creaking sound.] A harsh, shrill, or creaking noise.

Dryden.

Stridulate <Xpage=1425>

Strid"u*late (?) , v. t. [See Stridulous .] To make a shrill, creaking noise ; specifically (Zo\'94l.) , to make a shrill or musical sound, such as is made by the males of many insects.

Stridulation <Xpage=1425>

Strid`u*la"tion (?) , n. The act of stridulating. Specifically: (Zo\'94l.) (a) The act of making shrill sounds or musical notes by rubbing together certain hard parts, as is done by the males of many insects, especially by Orthoptera, such as crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts. (b) The noise itself.

&hand; The crickets stridulate by rubbing together the strong nervures of the fore wings. Many grasshoppers stridulate by rubbing the hind legs across strong nervures on the fore wings. The green grasshoppers and katydids stridulate by means of special organs at the base of the fore wings.

Stridulator <Xpage=1425>

Strid"u*la`tor (?) , n. [NL.] That which stridulates.

Darwin.

Stridulatory <Xpage=1425>

Strid"u*la*to*ry (?) , a. Stridulous; able to stridulate; used in stridulating; adapted for stridulation.

Darwin.

Stridulous <Xpage=1425>

Strid"u*lous (?) , a. [L. stridulus . See Strident .] Making a shrill, creaking sound.

Sir T. Browne.

The Sarmatian boor driving his stridulous cart. Longfellow.

Stridulous laryngitis (Med.) , a form of croup, or laryngitis, in children, associated with dyspn\'d2a, occurring usually at night, and marked by crowing or stridulous breathing.

Strife <Xpage=1425>

Strife (?) , n. [OF. estrif . See Strive .] 1. The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [Archaic]

Shak.

2. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts.

Doting about questions and strifes of words. 1 Tim. vi. 4.

Thus gods contended -- noble strife - Who most should ease the wants of life. Congreve.

3. Altercation; violent contention; fight; battle.

Twenty of them fought in this black strife . Shak.

These vows, thus granted, raised a strife above Betwixt the god of war and queen of love. Dryden.

4. That which is contended against; occasion of contest. [Obs.] "Lamenting her unlucky strife ."

Spenser.

Syn. -- Contest; struggle; quarrel. See Contention .

Strifeful <Xpage=1425>

Strife"ful (?) , a. Contentious; discordant.

The ape was strifeful and ambitious. Spenser.

Strigate <Xpage=1425>

Stri"gate (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having transverse bands of color.

Striges <Xpage=1425>

Stri"ges (?) , n. pl. [L., pl. of strix a streech owl; cf. Gr. <?/ a screaming night bird.] (Zo\'94l.) The tribe of birds which comprises the owls.

Strigil <Xpage=1425>

Strig"il (?) , n. [L. strigilis , from stringere to graze, scrape.] (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) An instrument of metal, ivory, etc., used for scraping the skin at the bath.