Part 838

Straight"ly, adv. A variant of Straitly. See 1st Straight.

Straight"ness, n. The quality, condition, or state, of being straight; as, the straightness of a path.

Straight"ness, n. A variant of Straitness.

Straight"-out` (?), a. Acting without concealment, obliquity, or compromise; hence, unqualified; thoroughgoing. [Colloq. U.S.]

Straight-out and generous indignation.

Mrs. Stowe.

Straight"-pight` (?), a. Straight in form or upright in position; erect. [Obs.] Shak.

Straight"-spo`ken (?), a. Speaking with directness; plain-spoken. [Colloq. U.S.] Lowell.

Straight"way` (?), adv. Immediately; without loss of time; without delay.

He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi. . . . And straightway the damsel arose.

Mark v. 41,42.

Straight"ways` (?), adv. Straightway. [Obs.]

Straik (?), n. A strake.

Strain (?), n. [See Strene.] 1. Race; stock; generation; descent; family.

He is of a noble strain.

Shak.

With animals and plants a cross between different varieties, or between individuals of the same variety but of another strain, gives vigor and fertility to the offspring.

Darwin.

2. Hereditary character, quality, or disposition.

Intemperance and lust breed diseases, which, propogated, spoil the strain of nation.

Tillotson.

3. Rank; a sort. "The common strain." Dryden.

Strain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Strained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Straining.] [OF. estraindre, estreindre, F. étreindre, L. stringere to draw or bind tight; probably akin to Gr. &?; a halter, &?; that which is squeezwd out, a drop, or perhaps to E. strike. Cf. Strangle, Strike, Constrain, District, Strait, a. Stress, Strict, Stringent.] 1. To draw with force; to extend with great effort; to stretch; as, to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship; to strain the cords of a musical instrument. "To strain his fetters with a stricter care." Dryden.

2. (Mech.) To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as forces on a beam to bend it.

3. To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously.

He sweats, Strains his young nerves.

Shak.

They strain their warbling throats To welcome in the spring.