straiten

American  

[streyt-n] / ˈstreɪt 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.

   1. to make narrow.

   2. to confine within narrow limits.

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straiten British  

/ ˈstreɪtən /

verb

1. (tr; usually passive) to embarrass or distress, esp financially

2. (tr) to limit, confine, or restrict

3. archaic to make or become narrow

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Etymology

Origin of straiten

First recorded in 1515–25; strait + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Chicane in furs, and Casuistry in lawn, Gasps, as they straiten at each end the cord, And dies, when Dulness gives her page the word.

From The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, Volume 2 by Gilfillan, George

O love immense and independent, which nothing can limit or straiten!

From Spiritual Torrents by Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte

It is known that statutes made, not to open and enlarge, but on fair grounds to straiten proofs, require two witnesses in cases of high treason.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 11 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund

Las Torres therefore determined to seize these places, which were distant about fifteen miles from his camp, and so to straiten the town for provisions.

From The Bravest of the Brave — or, with Peterborough in Spain by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

His most celebrated saying was, " Be constant in meditation on death: if thou bein straitened case 'twill enlarge it, and if in affluence 'twill straiten it upon thee."

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 02 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir