Nearby Words

straiten

[streyt-n]

strait·en

[streyt-n]
verb (used with object)
1.
to put into difficulties, especially financial ones: His obligations had straitened him.
2.
to restrict in range, extent, amount, pecuniary means, etc: Poverty straitens one's way of living.
3.
Archaic.
a.
to make narrow.
b.
to confine within narrow limits.

Origin:
1515–25; strait + -en1

un·strait·ened, adjective
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Straiten is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
to flee; abscond:
to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
Collins
World English Dictionary
straiten (ˈstreɪtən)
 
vb
1.  (tr; usually passive) to embarrass or distress, esp financially
2.  (tr) to limit, confine, or restrict
3.  archaic to make or become narrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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