strain

▪ I. strain, n.¹
    (streɪn)
    Forms: 1 stréon, str{iacu}on, 2–3 streon, 3–4 stren, 3–7 strene, 4 streone, 4–6 streen, 5–7 straine, 6–7 streine, streyne, 7 streene, 9 dial. strene, 7– strain.
    [OE. stréon, str{iacu}on neut., a shortened form (recorded only in North.) of ᵹestréon, ᵹestr{iacu}on (see i-streon) = OS., OHG. gistriuni, related to (ᵹe)stréonan, (ᵹe)str{iacu}enan, (ᵹe)str{yacu}nan to acquire, gain (also to beget, procreate) = OHG. (ga)striunen, f. OTeut. (pre-Teut.) root *streu- to pile up; cf. L. struēs pile, struĕre to build.
    The normal form in mod.Eng. would be streen; the actual form, which is found in the 15th c., but did not finally prevail until the 17th c., is due to association with strain n.² or n.³ The related strene v. did not survive beyond the 14th c., and therefore did not undergo the perversion of form.]
    † I. 1. Gain, acquisition; treasure: = i-streon 1. Obs.

c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. vi. 21 Ðer is strion ðin [Vulg. ubi est thesaurus tuus]. c 1250 Prov. ælfred 184 in O.E. Misc. 113 Acte nis non eldere stren [Jesus MS. istreon], ac it is Godis lone. c 1275 Lay. 18609 Þe castles gode were of his hilderne streone.

    II. † 2. Begetting, generation: = i-streon 2.
    Not recorded in OE., the supposed instance in Bæda's Hist. i. xxvii. being due to an erroneous reading.

c 1200 Ormin 127 Þatt naffdenn þeȝȝ þurrh þeȝȝre streon Ne sune child, ne dohhterr. Ibid. 18889 Off moderr & off faderr stren. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 19 Ure helende crist is his onlepi sune, noht after chesunge ac after strene.

    † 3. The germinal vesicle in the yolk of an egg.

c 1305 Pop. Treat. Sci. (1841) 132 Urthe is a-midde the hevene as the streon a-midde theye. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 51 Breke ten egges in cup fulle fayre,..Þo strene also þou put away. 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 54/2 Oui vmbilicus,..the streine or kenning of the egge. 1596 P. Barrough Meth. Phisick i. xxxviii. (1639) 61 Then put into the eye the streines of egs, ordered as I declared before. 1600 Surflet Country Farm i. xii. 64 Take..sixe springs or straines of egges that are verie new. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 523 The strain of an egg, umbilicus ovi. 1764 E. Moxon Eng. Housew. (ed. 9) 116 Take the yolks of two eggs and beat them very well, leaving out the strain.

    4. Offspring, progeny: = i-streon 3. Also fig. Obs. exc. arch.

c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 133 Vre drihten cleopede monnes streon sed. c 1200 Ormin 16396 Forr þatt hiss stren all shollde ben Todrifenn & toskeȝȝredd. a 1225 Ancr. R. 208 Ne not ich none sunne þet ne mei beon iled to one of ham seouene, oðer to hore streones. a 1225 Juliana (Bodl. MS.) 55, & wel bi semeð þe to beon & bikimeð to beo streon of a swuch strunde. 13.. King Alis. 511 A god..That hath y-laye by the quene, And bygete on hire a steorne streone. 1315 Shoreham Poems i. 1777 For te destruwen oure stren. 1621 Quarles Esther xviii, That remainder of proud Haman's straine, Their hands haue rooted out. 1839–52 Bailey Festus 175 Child of the royal blood of man redeemed, The starry strain of spirit, thence we are.

    5. Pedigree, lineage, ancestry, descent.

c 1205 Lay. 29725 Of Bruttisce streonen. c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 101 Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen Of which they [children] been engendred and ybore. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xxxviii. 345 A veleynes sone was he tho, and I-comen of a schrewed streen. 1470–85 Malory Arthur ii. i. 77 He must be a clene knyght withoute vylony and of a gentil strene of fader syde and moder syde. c 1530 Crt. of Love 370 For though thy-self be noble in thy strene, A thowsand-fold more nobill is thy quene. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. ix. 32 Sacred Reuerence, yborne of heauenly strene. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 394 Hee is of a noble straine, of approued valour, and confirm'd honesty. 1600 Fairfax Tasso v. xlii, Let them in fetters plead their cause (quoth hee) That are base peasants, borne of seruile straine. 1615 Chapman Odyss. xiv. 286 From ample Crete I fetch my Natiue straine; My Father wealthy: whose house [etc.]. 1624 Heywood Gunaik. i. 49 Young Epaphus..To Phaeton objects, that he was bred Of mortall straine. 1813 Scott Trierm. i. i, Where is the maiden of mortal strain, That may match with the Baron of Triermain?

    6. a. The descendants of a common ancestor; a race, stock, line.

c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 1021 For þe misbeȝeten stren Quic y schal now doluen ben! c 1400 Rom. Rose 4859 Bicause al is corumpable, And faile shulde successioun, Ne were ther generacioun Our sectis strene for to save. c 1440 Sir Gowther 202 Thow comest never of Crists strene, Thou art sum fendes sone y wene. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xiii. viii. 622 He is..of the best men of the world comen and of the strene of alle partyes of kynges. 1569 Irish Act 11 Eliz. c. 1. (1621) 315 Least that any man..might be ledde..to thinke that the strene or lyne of the Oneyles should..hold or possesse anie part of the dominion..of Ulster. 1589 Warner Albion's Eng. vi. xxxi. (1592) 140 Of that Streene shall Fiue at length re-raigne. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 465 His carkasse..was hanged vpon a gallowes, and all his kindred and children put to death, that there might not one remaine of his straine. 1624 Quarles Job Milit. x. Med. xxviii, And left his Empire to another Straine. 1676 Shadwell Virtuoso i. i, It must needs be so; for Gentlemen care not upon what Strain they get their sons, nor how they breed 'em, when they have got 'em. 1688 Dryden Brit. Rediv. 216 And for his Estian race and Saxon strain Might reproduce some second Richard's reign. 1700 Prior Carmen Sec. 73 Charlemain, And the long Heroes of the Gallic Strain. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. lxiii. IV. 247, I come of a strain that has ardently maintained the fellowship of our race.

    b. Any one of the various lines of ancestry united in an individual or a family; an admixture of some racial or family element in a genealogy.

1863 G. J. Whyte-Melville Gladiators I. ii. 26 It might have been the strain of Greek blood which filtered through his veins, that tempered his Roman courage..with the pliancy, essential to conspiracy and intrigue. 1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 8 June 11 These animals are usually a cross between the bulldog and the mastiff, and are all the better if dashed with a strain of the bloodhound. 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 93 She's just a Highland lady Touched with an Eastern strain. 1897 Times 11 Mar. 12/2 Lord Coventry..said..He had not bought horses in Ireland as hunters which had any strain of hackney or cart-horse blood. 1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana ix. 103 The features were regular..with something about..the moulding of the nose and chin that suggested a strain of Jewish blood.

    7. A race, breed; a variety developed by breeding. a. of animals.

1607 Markham Caval. i. (1617) 26, I..know, that if a man will continue his breede altogether in one straine, without any alteration or strangenesse [he] shall in the ende finde his studd to decay. 1615 Chapman Odyss. xiv. 31 By them, Mastiues as au tere As sauage beasts, lay euer. Their fierce straine Bred by the Herdsman. 1634 Brereton Trav. (Chetham Soc.) 32 Coach-mares, bred but of his own straine. c 1650 in Thoms Anecd. (Camden) 47 The cocke was match't, and bearing Sir Thomas Jermin's name... Everyone wond'red to see Sir Thomas his streine cry Craven. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. ii. 55 Two Kids..Both fleck'd with white, the true Arcadian Strain. 1708 J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. i. iii. (1743) 12 The Sheep of Cotswold have so fine a Wool, that the Spanish strain ('tis said) came from a Present of Edward I. made of these Sheep to Alphonso King of Spain. 1759 R. Brown Compl. Farmer 46 The former hogs of the cross strain. 1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 70/1 Crosses with the Hereford were tried,..but soon, after one or two generations, the defects of the Glamorganshire strain reappeared. 1854 Poultry Chron. I. 246/2 To keep up a stock of first-rate fowls it is necessary every other year to cross the strain. 1859 Darwin Orig. Spec. i. 34 Eminent breeders try by methodical selection, with a distinct object in view, to make a new strain or sub-breed, superior to anything existing in the country. 1868 Field 4 July 22/2 Two Pups of his strain of the above breed [of St. Bernard's]. 1872 L. Wright Illustr. Bk. Poultry 207 Strain, a race of fowls which, having been carefully bred by one breeder or his successors for years, has acquired an individual character of its own which can be more or less relied upon. 1884 Expositor Jan. 35 The animals which man has bred into new and specialized strains.

    b. of plants.

1845 Florist's Jrnl. (1846) VI. 42 It has..taken a number of years to obtain what florists term a ‘strain’ of flowers likely to lead to great results. 1849 J. F. Wood Midland Florist iii. 121 Every tulip grower is aware of the importance of getting a good strain of any given variety. 1908 Ch. Times 20 Mar. 392/4 Begonias, gold medal strain, equal to any in the kingdom.

    c. of microbes, etc.

1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 636 Numerous strains of vaccine lymph have, from time to time been raised from the equine source. 1904 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 3 Dec. 1508 Another point leading to a similar interpretation is observed in some strains of B. anthracis.

    (b) spec. as strain 19, Strain 19: a strain of the bacterium Brucella abortus which is used as a live vaccine against brucellosis in cattle and as a killed vaccine in horses.

1930 Jrnl. Agric. Res. XLI. 669 Strain 19 that had been isolated one and one-half years previously was used in the preparation of the vaccine administered to calves. 1959 Vet. Ann. I. 88 There have been several reports of infection of human beings with strain 19 vaccine. 1970 T. G. Hungerford Dis. Livestock (ed. 7) 718/2 Injection of Strain 19 into the horse is followed by severe systemic reaction... As a result, killed Brucella abortus vaccine was originally used, but it is thought that the living Strain 19 giving a violent reaction offers a better hope of success.

    8. a. Inherited character or constitution.

1603 B. Jonson Sejanus i. i, 'Tis wee are..degenerate from th' exalted streine Of our great Fathers. 1605 Shakes. Lear v. iii. 40 Sir, you have shew'd to day your valiant straine And Fortune led you well. a 1671 Tillotson Serm. iii. 135 Intemperance and Lust breed infirmities and diseases, which being propagated, spoil the Strain of a Nation. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 1176 A strain, indoles. 1853 C. Brontë Villette ii, Neither in mien nor in features was this creature like her sire, and yet she was of his strain; her mind had been filled from his, as the cup from the flagon.

    b. An inherited tendency or quality; a feature of character or constitution derived from some ancestor; hence, in wider sense, an admixture in a character of some quality somewhat contrasting with the rest.

1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 91 For sure vnlesse he know some straine in mee, that I know not my selfe, he would neuer haue boorded me in this furie. 1605 Lond. Prodigal iii. ii. 172 Such mad straines as hee's possesst withall. a 1627 Hayward Edw. VI (1630) 7 Because Heretickes for the most part haue a straine of madnesse, he thought it best to apply her with some corporall chastisements. 1633 Heywood Eng. Trav. 1, The French is of one humor, Spaine another, The hot Italian hee's a straine from both. 1704 Swift Mech. Operat. Spir. in Tale Tub, etc. 289 A Fanatick Strain, or Tincture of Enthusiasm. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate i, She really has a strain of nobility under all her flightiness. 1899 P. H. Brown Hist. Scot. ii. ii. I. 95 There was in him a strain of superstition which distorted his vision in all matters concerned with the church. 1906 Lit. World 15 Nov. 489/2 There was..a strain of insanity in the family.

    † c. A characteristic instance (of a person's qualities). Obs.

1685 Temple Gardening Wks. 1770 III. 204 It was no mean strain of his philosophy to refuse being secretary to Augustus. 1695 ― Hist. Eng. (1699) 146 It looks like a Strain of his usual Boldness and fearless Temper.

    9. a. A kind, class, or sort (of persons), as determined by community of character, conduct, or degree of ability. Now rare.

1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. iii. 97 Mist. Page. Hang him dishonest rascall: I would all of the same straine, were in the same distresse. 1600–9 Rowlands Knaue of Clubbes 32 A Cittie wanton full of pride and lust, Of Venus straine and disposition iust. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 57 And that by the confession even of some of his owne straine. 1645 Featly Dippers Dipt (1646) 21 So we haue had but too just cause to complain of the like outrages committed by some of the Zelots of that Straine. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. 4 Their [sc. the Druids'] high conceipt of their excellency above the ordinary straine of men. a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) I. 172 The Councell that grannted such power to a partie of that straine, were malitiously intended. 1693 Dryden Persius v. 164 Thou, who lately of the common strain, Wert one of us. 1746 Francis tr. Hor., Sat. i. i. 131 A bold Wench, of right Virago Strain. 1847 Emerson Poems, Threnody 141 The world..was not ripe yet, to sustain A genius of so fine a strain.

    b. A kind, class, or grade (of things). ? Obs.

1612 T. Taylor Titus i. i. (1619) 24 The contemplation of things of an higher strain. 1646 J. Maxwell Burd. Isaachar 4 All crimes and scandals of highest strain, namely, such as are civilly punishable by death. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth v. (1723) 249 But these Alterations are of a quite different Strain. 1702 S. Parker tr. Cicero's De Fin. iv. 231 Hitherto your Objections have been Vulgar and of Course; and therefore I promise myself you have a higher Strein in Reserve.

    10. Comb. strain-specific adj.; strain-specificity.

1964 M. Hynes Med. Bacteriol. (ed. 8) xxiv. 350 Many examples are now known of viruses which cause malignant tumours in animals. Most are species-specific or even strain-specific.

1947 Ann. Rev. Microbiol. I. 362 There was a sharp strain specificity with sedimented antigen and less with the residual.

▪ II. strain, n.²
    (streɪn)
    Forms: 5 stren, 5–7 straine, 6 Sc. streinȝe, strenȝae, 6–7 strayn(e, streine, streyne, 7 streyn, Sc. strienȝie, 7–8 strein, 7– strain.
    [f. strain v.¹]
    † I. 1. A strainer. Obs.

1432 in Gross Gild Merch. (1890) II. 233 For a straine 2 d. c 1467 Noble Bk. Cookry (1882) 26 Streyn the broth through a stren. 1655 R. Younge Charge agst. Drunkards (1863) 3 Custom hath made it to passe through them, as through a tunnel, or streine [1658, strainer].

    II. Action or result of straining.
    † 2. Constraint, bondage. Obs.

a 1510 Douglas K. Hart i. 274 Thair saw he Lust by law [ly] vnder lok, In streinȝe strong fast fetterit fute and hand.

    † 3. Compulsion. Obs.

1532 Abstr. Protocols Town Clerks Glasgow (1897) IV. 46 The forsaydis Thomas and Jonet..sull pas frele, withowt ony impediment and strenȝae ane mark of anwell. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. iii, What I here speake is forced from my lips By the pulsive straine of conscience. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 487 What by dread or straine, you can not worke nor do. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xii. ix, Moderation's Discipline may prove No Task of Duty, but a Strein of Love.

    4. A result of straining. a. An injury done to a limb or part of the body, esp. to a muscle or tendon, through being forcibly stretched beyond its proper length. Often coincident with sprain.

1558 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Mary (1914) 251, I ame not able to ryde nor shalbe I fear this iij or iiij dais by reason of a strayn. 1580 Lyly Euphues & Eng. Wks. 1902 II. 204 Saying that in thinges aboue reach, it was easie to catch a straine; but impossible to touch a Star. 1614 Latham Falconry (1633) 135 This is a very speciall thing to comfort the sinewes ouer strained, and to cure and asswage the anguish of the straine. 1670 E. Borlase Latham Spaw 51 His Servant..got a strain in his back, lifting more than he could well master. a 1673 P. D. Mare of Collingtoun in Watson's Collect. i. (1706) 60 It will be good against the Pine Of any Wriest or Strienzie. 1735 Dyche & Pardon Dict., Strain,..also an Extorsion of the Sinews beyond their natural Tone, sometimes called a Sprain. 1789 W. Buchan Dom. Med. (1790) 597 Strains are often attended with worse consequences than broken bones. 1842 Penny Cycl. XXII. 383/1 Sprain, or Strain, is an injury of muscular or tendinous tissues, resulting from their being forcibly stretched beyond their natural length.

    † b. A failure under trial. Obs.

1596 Barlow Three Serm. ii. 81 For thogh the godly haue their slips and straines, yet it greeueth them.

    5. a. A stretch, extreme degree, height, pitch (of a quality, activity, etc.). Now rare.
    Some of the examples below might perhaps be referred to strain n.¹ 9 or 8 c.

1576 Gascoigne Steele Gl. (Arb.) 59 But had he seene, the streine of straunge deuise, Which Epicures, do now adayes inuent, To yeld good smacke, vnto their daintie tongues:..Then would he say, that [etc.]. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxvi. vii. 292 More odious than Cleander; who governing as Præfect..in a high straine (as it were) of out⁓rage and madnesse, made havocke..of divers mens estates. 1627 Hakewill Apol. (1630) 411 Yet Heliogabalus went a straine farther, and put it to a baser use. 1631 R. Bolton Comf. Affl. Consc. vii. (1635) 43 Crowne Him with the concurrence of all created earthy exellencies, to the utmost and highest straine. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xii. cxlvii, No Epicurean ambition e'r Its liquorish self screw'd to so high a strein As to affect a Draught so rich as this. 1664 Wood Life (O.H.S.) II. 2 The undergraduates..arrived to strang degree and streyn of impudence. 1667 [Sir J. Stuart & Stirling] Napthali 91 This is a strain of wickedness above all that former times could imagine. 1685 Stillingfl. Orig. Brit. v. 275 This is a Strain beyond Geffrey, who never thought of bringing the British Language from the Plain of Sennaar. 1708 Swift Abol. Chr. (1717) 13 To Break an English Free⁓born Officer only for Blasphemy, was..a very high strain of absolute Power. a 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 228 It was thought..an odd strain of clemency if it was intended he [Milton] should be forgiven. 1717 Pope Let. to Earl Halifax 1 Dec., It is, indeed, a high Strain of Generosity in you, to think of making me easy all my Life. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India v. vi. II. 574 Justice was administered..without any peculiar strain of abuse. 1822 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Bks. & Reading, I knew a Unitarian minister, who was generally to be seen upon Snowhill.., between the hours of ten and eleven in the morning, studying a volume of Lardner. I own this to have been a strain of abstraction beyond my reach. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 161 Saying the same thing in different ways..is a strain of art beyond the reach of most of us.

    † b. Utmost capacity, reach. Obs.

1593 Drayton Sheph. Garland Eglog iii. v, Faire Betas praise beyond our straine doth stretch, Her notes too hie for my poore pipe to reach. 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. Induct., May our Minerua Answere your hopes, vnto their largest straine! 1599 ― Cynthia's Rev. i. v. (1601) C 4 b, O how..base a thing is Man, If he not striue t'erect his groueling thoughts Aboue the straine of flesh?

    † c. Standard of requirement. Obs.

1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxii. §9 That wee beware wee take not at the first either to High a strayne or to weake: for if, too Highe in a diffident nature you discourage, in a confident nature, you breede an opinion of facility.

    † d. ? A ‘stretch’ of country. Obs. rare^—1.

1614 Gorges Lucan vi. 215 That long stretching Malean straine That shelues so farre into the maine.

    † 6. A strained construction or interpretation.

1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love 26 b, The first straine wheron this further hereticall accord was to be stretched, was this. 1609 [W. Barlow] Answ. Nameless Cath. 38 What a trifling Sophister this is, to picke quarels at words, by wrests and streines, neither to purpose nor to sense. 1616 Jas. I Sp. Starre-Chamber 20 June 20 It must not bee Sophistrie or straines of wit that must interprete, but either cleare Law, or solide reason. 1629 Chas. I Decl. 3rd Parlt. Wks. 1662 II. 16 Finding..such sinister strains made upon Our Answer to that Petition..We resolved [etc.]. 1707 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. II. 334 We declare [this] to be a meer straine and a most unjust Imputation. 1720 Ld. Chanc. Parker in W. P. Williams Chancery Cases (1740) I. 517 It was a strange Construction to take Pains by a Strain in Law, to place a Remainder in Fee in Nubibus. 1726 Swift Gulliver i. iv, This, however, is thought to be a mere strain upon the text: For the words are these: ‘That all true’ [etc.]. 1731 ― Verses Death Dr. Swift 327 Not strains of law,..nor jury picked, Prevail to bring him in Convict.

    † 7. Something strained or squeezed out. Obs.

c 1616 Chapman Batrachom. 3 Lyurings (white-skin'd as Ladies:) nor the straines Of prest milke, renneted.

    8. a. A strong muscular effort; † spec. an effort to vomit, a retching; a straining at stool.
    In quots. 1590, 1607 app. used for: A step, pace (? with notion of stately or ponderous movement.)

1590 Greene Never too Late, Canzone 37 Her pace was like to Iunoes pompous straines When as she sweeps through heuens brasse-paued way. 1592 Kyd John Brewen Wks. (1901) 290 He began to vomet exceedingly, with such straines as if his lungs would burst in pieces. 1601 Holland Pliny xxii. xxi. II. 126 As many as live thereof, are infested..neither with the dysenterie..ne yet with the troublesome offers and streins to the seege without doing any thing. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 101 This beast..doth not moue his right and left foote one after another, but both together,..whereby his whole body is remoued at euery step or straine. c 1630 Donne Serm. xxxiii. (1640) 322 The holy Ghost..deales not with him, as a Painter, which..passes his pencill an hundred times over every muscle,..but..as a Printer, that in one straine delivers a whole story. 1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 74a, The Rise..was only for so little a way, that a beast heavy loaden cou'd get over it at one strain. 1771 R. James Diss. Fevers (ed. 8) 40 He had several strains for two hours, but never vomited. 1884 W. F. Butler Nile Boat Song in Pall Mall Gaz. 16 Oct. 4/2 Row, my boys, row away... Bend to the strain, men!

    b. at (full, utmost) strain, on the strain: straining, using strong effort. Cf. astrain adv.

1851 Mrs. Browning Casa Guidi Wind. ii. 290 With her wide eyes at full strain. 1868–70 Morris Earthly Par. iii. 432 A dismal wedding! every ear at strain Some sign of things that were to be to gain. 1884 Graphic 16 Aug. 166/1 Till..even nine at night they are perpetually on the strain. 1885–94 Bridges Eros & Psyche May 20 Adonis..spear in hand, with leashed dogs at strain. 1900 F. T. Bullen With Christ at Sea xi. 227 They were all labouring at utmost strain to try and save the ship.

    c. Extreme or excessive effort; a straining at or after some object of attainment; † laboured or affected diction or thought.

1683–6 Dryden's Plutarch, Jul. Cæsar (1693) IV. 416 Yet with the utmost streins of their valour, they were not able to beat the enemy out of the field. 1713 Johnson Guardian No. 4 ¶2 ‘Tis observable of the Female Poets and Ladies Dedicatory, that..they far exceed us in any Strain or Rant. 1839 Hallam Lit. Europe iv. vii. §5. IV. 501 The Dialogues of the Dead..are condemned by some critics for their false taste and perpetual strain at something unexpected and paradoxical. 1870 Morley Crit. Misc., Vauvenargues (1871) I. 21 Men think and work on the highest level when they move without conscious and deliberate strain after virtue. 1905 J. H. Jowett Passion for Souls 84 There shall be strenuousness without strain!

    9. a. A forcible stretching of a material thing; force tending to pull asunder or to drag from a position. In later use with wider sense: Force or pressure tending to cause fracture, change of position, or alteration of shape; also, the condition of a body or a particle subjected to such force or pressure.

1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. 1, Heele snap in two at every little straine. 1818 P. Barlow in Encycl. Metrop. III. 61/1 Our object is to investigate the conditions of equilibrium between the resistance of solids, and the strains to which they may be exposed. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xx. (1842) 548 That by directing the pull on the bottle a little on one side or the other, the strain upon the stopper may be equal or nearly so on the two sides. 1827–8 Herschel in Encycl. Metrop. IV. 565 The general problem, then, to investigate the actual state of strain of any molecule at any moment is one of some complexity. 1842 Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Strain, the force exerted on any material tending to disarrange or destroy the cohesion of its component parts. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Set up rigging, to take in the slack of the shrouds, stays, and backstays, to bring the same strain as before, and thus secure the masts. 1884 Sargent Rep. Forests N. Amer. 355 Table III. Behavior of the principal woods of the United States under transverse strain. 1888 Burt Stand. Timber Meas. 312 Table of Breaking Strains.

    b. Physics. In mod. use, after Rankine and Thomson: see quots.

1850 Rankine Misc. Sci. Papers (1881) 68 Although the word strain is used in ordinary language indiscriminately to denote relative molecular displacement, and the force by which it is produced,..I shall..use it, throughout this paper, in the restricted sense of relative displacement of particles, whether consisting in dilatation, condensation, or distortion; while under the term pressure I shall include [etc.]. 1879 Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §154 We have now to consider the very important kinematical conditions presented by the changes of volume or figure experienced by a solid or liquid mass... Any such definite alteration of form or dimensions is called a Strain.

    c. to take the strain, in a tug of war: see quots.; fig., to assume a burden, take a responsibility.

1912 Games & Nav. Milit. Tournament 3 The pulls will be started by the Referee by word of mouth:—‘Take the strain’, on which both teams will put a strain on the rope without pulling. 1927 W. E. Collinson Contemporary English 38 Among the other field sports I might single out..the tug of war with its expressions to take the strain (i.e. when each side pulls the rope taut before the signal for the tug is given by the dropping of a handkerchief), and to pull one's weight.., both of which lend themselves to figurative use.

    10. In immaterial applications of sense 9 a. † a. pl. Trials, hardships. Obs.

a 1628 F. Grevil Sidney (1652) 18 Any man..forced, in the straines of this life, to pass through any straights or latitudes of good or ill fortune.

    b. Pressure or exigency that severely taxes the strength, endurance, or resources of a person or thing, or that imperils the permanence of a feeling, relation, or condition.

1853 Mrs. Gaskell Ruth xxxi, I should not have been surprised last night if he had dropped down dead, so terrible was his strain upon himself. 1858 Lytton What will He do? xii. ix, The reaction that follows all strain upon purpose. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 196 The strain upon the horses [was] very great. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. xv. I. 295 A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections. 1897 M. Kingsley W. Africa 217 He was..a bright, intelligent young Frenchman; but..the strain of his responsibility had been too much for him. 1894 Lady M. Verney Verney Mem. III. 5 He had been often driven to borrow money of Sir Ralph..but their friendship had stood the strain. 1898 Conan Doyle Trag. Korosko v. 123 My Arabic won't bear much strain. I don't know what he is saying. 1908 R. Bagot A. Cuthbert xxiii. 309 His voice broke suddenly, and Sonia realised the strain he had been putting upon himself to meet his trouble quietly and courageously.

    c. Strained relations, tension.

1884 Chr. World 30 Oct. 821/1 The strain between the two Houses could, he thought, only be relaxed by mutual concessions.

    d. Life Insurance. An expense or financial liability incurred by an insurance office which is not covered by reserves accumulated from the relevant policies.

1910 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 670/2 It is obvious that office B, which has a margin of income 50% greater than that of office A, is so much better able to bear any unusual strain in addition to the ordinary expenditure. 1929 F. L. Collins in R. C. Simmonds Life Assurance Text-bk. 128 The true risk which the office runs consists not in the whole sum assured, but in the difference required in the case of death to supplement the reserve value which it already has in hand{ddd}technically termed the ‘strain’. 1941 Economist 15 Mar. 344/1 When a premature death occurs, the loss to the office, known technically as the ‘strain’, is the difference between the policy moneys payable and the reserve carried, and it follows that this ‘strain’ will be much greater in the case of a young life than an old one. 1965 Fisher & Young Actuarial Practice of Life Assurance i. ii. 29 The net premium method of valuation failed to take account of this uneven incidence of expenses and caused what is termed a new business strain. It required the setting up of initial reserves which could not have been derived from the first premium since that had been largely or even entirely expended in the cost of the first year's risk and expenses.

    11. Phr. strain and stress (with reference to senses 9 and 10; cf. stress(es) and strains s.v. stress n. 6).

[1842 Penny Cycl. XXIII. 101/2 Strain and Stress. ([See] Materials, Strength of.)] 1856 Phil. Trans. R. Soc. CXLVI. 488 (heading) On the measurement of strains and stresses. 1857 E. B. Browning Aurora Leigh v. 385 We, staggering 'neath our burden as mere men, Being called to stand up straight as demi-gods, Support the intolerable strain and stress Of the universal. 1872 J. G. Whittier in Pennsylvania Pilgrim 94 Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace. 1935 Discovery Sept. 270/1 Many [stelae] have successfully resisted the strains and stresses of the passing centuries. 1941 H. G. Wells You can't be too Careful v. i. 240 After a tremendous constructive effort after the war, and after a phase of experimental strain and stress. 1962 J. Dill in Into Orbit p. xix, Space flight..would expose the Astronauts to greater strains and stresses, both physically and mentally, than most pilots had ever had to face.

    III. (Cf. strain v.¹ V.)
    12. Mus. A definite section of a piece of music: see quots. 1841–75.

1575 Gascoigne Posies, Gr. Knt.'s Farew. Fansie Wks. 1907 I. 381 In Hyerarchies and straynes, in restes, in rule and space, In monacordes and mouing moodes, in Burdens vnder base. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet in Lyly's Wks. (1902) III. 413 Martin, this is my last straine for this fleech of mirth... I must tune my fiddle, and fetch some more rozen. 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 180 Canzonets..(wherein little arte can be shewed being made in straines, the beginning of which is some point lightlie touched, and euerie straine repeated except the middle). 1598 T. Bastard Chrestol. ii. xxi. 40 He hath rimes and rimes, and double straynes: And golden verses, and all kindes of veynes. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. v. (1601) L 2, Stage-dir., They daunce the 1. Straine. 1662 Playford Skill Mus. i. xi. 35 The double Bars are set to divide the several Strains or Stanzaes of the Songs and Lessons. 1676 Mace Musick's Mon. 127 If at any time you chance to meet with a Strain, consisting of Odd Barrs, peruse That Strain well. 1841 J. A. Hamilton Dict. Mus. Terms (ed. 13) 66 Strain, a portion of a movement divided off by a double bar. 1873 H. C. Banister Mus. 171 A musical idea or passage, more or less complete in itself, and terminating, most frequently, with a Perfect Cadence..constitutes a Rhythmical Period, or Strain. 1875 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms, Strain, a musical subject forming part of, and having relation to, a general whole.

    13. a. In wider sense, a musical sequence of sounds; a melody, tune. Often collect. pl.

1579 Gosson Apol. Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 68 Pypers are sore displeased bicause I allow not their new streines. ? 1617 Sir W. Mure To Prince Charles 4 Montgomery..often ravischt his harmonious ear W{supt} straynes fitt only for a prince to heir. 1637 Milton Lycidas 87 That strain I heard was of a higher mood. 1687 Norris Misc. 89 Soft melting strains of Music. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 746 She supplies the Night with mournful Strains, And melancholy Musick fills the Plains. 1735 Fielding Universal Gallant Epil., By the vast sums we pay them for their strains, They'll think, perhaps, we don't abound in brains. 1775 Sheridan Duenna i. i, Tell me, my lute, can thy soft strain So gently speak thy master's pain? 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xxvii, Emily recollected the mysterious strains of music that she had lately heard. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 347 When a soft strain of music stole up from the garden. 1827 Keble Chr. Yr., Morning 37 As for some dear familiar strain Untir'd we ask, and ask again. 1851 Longfellow Golden Leg. iv. Road to Hirschau, This life of ours is a wild æolian harp of many a joyous strain. 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock 108 The enlivening strains of the brass band. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 14 Notes are struck which are repeated from time to time, as in a strain of music.

    b. transf. A passage of song or poetry. † Also, ? a passage, verse (of the Bible).

1563 Golding Calvin on Job 135 b, This is not the naturall meening: and such as take it so, neuer knewe the intent of the holy Ghost as touching this streyne [Fr. quant à ce passage]. 1583 ― Calvin on Deut. ii. 18 b, That then is the thing that wee haue to marke vppon this streyne [Fr. en ce passage]. 1632 Milton Penseroso 174 Till old experience do attain To something like Prophetic strain. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §44 There be many excellent straines in that Poet [Lucan]. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. iv. 1 Sicilian Muse, begin a loftier strain! 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 93 ¶3 Interest and passion..will for ever bid defiance to the most powerful strains of Virgil or Homer. 1766 [Anstey] Bath Guide i. 14 Here teach fond Swains their hapless Loves In gentle Strains to weep. 1770 Goldsm. Des. Vill. 423 Aid slighted truth with thy persuasive strain. 1833 Tennyson Miller's Dau. 66 A love-song I had somewhere read, An echo from a measured strain. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Goethe Wks. (Bohn) I. 392 There are nobler strains in poetry than any he has sounded. 1858 J. Martineau Stud. Christ 41 Who, having the strains of David, would pore over Leviticus? 1879 Geo. Eliot Theo. Such ii. 32, I might have poured forth poetic strains which would have anticipated theory.

    c. A stream or flow of impassioned or ungoverned language. (Either in favourable or unfavourable sense.) ? Obs.; common in 17–18th c.

1649 Milton Eikon. vi. 50 The Simily..I was about to have found fault with, as in a garb somwhat more Poeticall then for a Statist: but meeting with many straines of like dress in other of his Essaies,..I begun to think that [etc.]. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1716) I. 159 When a man is..fiercely angry..he blustereth and dischargeth his choler in most tragical strains. 1699 T. Baker Refl. Learn. xv. 178 Macrobius speaks of his [sc. Hippocrates'] knowledge in such lofty strains, as are only agreeable to God Almighty. 1713 Steele Englishman No. 55. 355 Addresses came..with foolish Strains of Obedience without Reserve. 1741 Hume Ess. Mor. & Polit. xvi. (1748) 144 Shall we assert, that the Strains of ancient Eloquence are unsuitable to our Age? 1742 C. Yorke in G. Harris Life Ld. Hardwicke (1847) II. 21 Dean Swift has had a statute of lunacy taken out against him. His madness appears chiefly in most incessant strains of obscenity and swearing.

    14. Tone, style, or turn of expression; tone or character of feeling expressed; tenor, drift, or general tendency or character (of a composition or discourse).

1622 J. Taylor (Water P.) Water-Cormorant Pref., I haue thought good to sympathize a subiect fit for the time, and I haue done my best to handle it in a sutable straine. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. Introd. Pref. (1848) p. xxi, When he writes of Ants and Flies, he does it in a Strain worthy of the same Pen, that so loftily describes the Destruction of Troy. 1678 R. Barclay Apol. Quakers v. §xxi. 161 It is contrary to the very strain of the Context. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 1176 A strain in speech, stylus, sermo. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. Introd., To study what those Sayings should contain That speak to us in such a Cloudy strain. 1708 Swift Baucis & Phil. 11 Where, in the Strolers canting Strain, They begg'd from Door to Door in vain. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. to Hen. VII, I. i. 23 Their writings, which as appears from the strain of his own wit,..he [Gregory] had not taste nor genius sufficient to comprehend. 1777 Priestley Matter & Spir. Pref. p. xix, It is, I presume, sufficiently evident from the strain of my publications, that general applause has not been my object. 1786 Cowper Let. 19 Feb., My friend Bagot writes to me in a most friendly strain. 1808 W. Wilson Hist. Dissenting Ch. II. 56 For a serious, evangelical strain of preaching,..he was equalled by few ministers in his day. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India iv. v. II. 164 Clive wrote with much sharpness to the Nabob; and Meeran apologized in the most submissive strain. 1826 W. Irving Babylon I. ii. 69 And among the heathen also, if we may judge from the strain of many of their writings. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 141 But his letters to England were in a very different strain. 1870 J. Bruce Life of Gideon iv. 74 Observe the strain and character of that wonderful reply. 1902 R. Bagot Donna Diana x. 113 At times Frau von Raben would talk in a mysteriously sympathizing strain, as though inviting her confidence.

    † IV. 15. The track of a deer. (Cf. strain v.¹ 18 b.) Obs.

1612 Capt. Smith Virginia Wks. (Arb.) I. 71 So watching his best aduantage.., hauing shot him [a deer] hee chaseth him by his blood and straine till he get him. 1652 J. Wright tr. Camus' Nat. Paradox iv. 82 The Hunts-men, who were more in pain for the straying of their Master, than their missing of the Stag, whose Strain they could not finde, all their Hounds being at a loss. 1659 Howell Lex. Tetragl., Partic. Voc. iii, The strain, view, slott, or footing of a deer.

    V. 16. attrib. and Comb., as strain-bearing, strain case, strain-sensation; strain-free, strain-veined adjs.; strain ageing vbl. n. Metallurgy, the cold working of iron and steel followed by ageing, either at room temperature or at temperatures up to the recrystallization temperature; also, the resultant increase in hardness and decrease in ductility; so strain-aged ppl. a.; strain-band Naut. (see quot. 1867); strain energy, (a) Mech., energy stored in a body as a result of work performed on it; (b) Chem., the excess heat of formation of a cyclic molecule over the value calculated from similar bonds in unstrained molecules; strain gauge Engin., a device for indicating the strain of a material or structure at the point of attachment; strain hardening vbl. n. Metallurgy, increase in strength and hardness and decrease in ductility of a metal as a result of strain ageing; so strain-harden v. intr., to undergo strain hardening; strain-hardened ppl. a.; strainmeter Engin. = strain gauge above; strain rosette Engin. = rosette n. 5 f; strain-slip cleavage Geol., a rock structure in which there are parallel, closely-spaced shear planes with transverse microscopic folds between adjacent ones.

1966 Trans. Metall. Soc. A.I.M.E. CCXXXVI. 1198/1 (heading) The yield-point phenomenon in *strain-aged martensite. 1979 Jrnl. Materials Sci. XIV. 386 A strain⁓aged low carbon (∼ 0·1% C) temper-rolled 16-gauge sheet steel which has been subjected to..ageing temperatures of 80 and 100°C.

1934 Proc. Amer. Soc. Testing Materials XXXIV. ii. 48 The authors have applied the principle that *strain ageing and blue brittleness of ferrous materials are but different manifestations of the same phenomenon. 1967 A. H. Cottrell Introd. Metall. xxi. 394 In mild steel strain ageing usually takes a few days at room temperature, or about 30 minutes at 100°C, the rate being controlled by the diffusion of nitrogen and carbon atoms.

1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., *Strain-bands, bands of canvas sustaining the strain on the belly of the sails, and reinforced by the linings, &c.

1899 Whiteing 5 John St. xix. 194 She [a mare] is a tower of strength, as carefully constructed for *strain-bearing as an Arctic ship.

1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 954 The disease in the cardio-arterial cases is ‘progressive’ and in the rheumatic or *strain cases not necessarily so.

1926 Pippard & Barrow Building Res. Board Techn. Paper No. 1. 2 The total *strain energy of the beam is made up of three components due to bending, torque and shear. 1939 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. LXI. 1871/2 The relative heats of hydration may be employed to evaluate the strain energy in cyclopentene only after correction has been made for these steric effects. 1976 A. L. Ternay Contemp. Org. Chem. vii. 197 The cyclopentane ring is puckered and..the cyclohexane ring exists largely in the chair form. If these compounds did not adopt these geometries, their strain energy would increase. 1977 Willems & Lucas Struct. Analysis for Engineers (1978) iii. 34 For the purposes of this text..all work done by external actions Ai acting through corresponding displacements Di will be converted into kinetic and strain energy, and no energy losses will occur.

1946 Nature 26 Oct. 583/1 Well-annealed glass is *strain-free when uniformly heated. 1978 Solid State Communications XXVII. 713 (heading) Ferromagnetic resonance in strained and strain-free single crystal nickel films.

1910 Engin. Rec. LXI. 767/2 (caption) *Strain gauge or extensometer for deformation of webs or beams. 1948 ‘N. Shute’ No Highway i. 9 He had a few strain gauges mounted on various parts of the structure. 1972 L. M. Harris Introd. Deep-water Floating Drilling Operations xv. 160 Strain gauges on marine-riser joints have been used to evaluate fatigue damage and to locate stress concentrations. 1977 Proc. R. Soc. Med. LXX. 172/2 Mouth pressure and œsophageal pressure are monitored using strain-gauge transducers.

1959 C. E. Birchenall Physical Metall. vi. 124 Alloys always *strain-harden more effectively than pure metals. 1968 B. Avitzur Metal Forming viii. 201 When a material is deformed at a temperature above its crystallization temperature, it does not strain-harden.

1914 W. Rosenhain Introd. Stud. Physical Metall. xiii. 300 All ordinary wrought metals show signs of ‘cold work’ and are more or less *strain-hardened. 1960 Jrnl. Appl. Physics XXXI. 687/1 It is usually difficult to study the behavior of individual dislocations in strain-hardened crystals because so many dislocations are present.

1914 W. Rosenhain Introd. Stud. Physical Metall. xiii. 300 It is generally desirable to continue the working operations until a moderately low temperature is reached. This will result in slight *strain-hardening of the metal. 1973 J. G. Tweeddale Materials Technol. II. iv. 75 In metallic materials particularly, and in some other crystalline materials, mechanical deformation in certain circumstances gives rise to strain hardening.

1916 Metallurgical & Chem. Engin. XIV. 551/1 The *strainmeter is not affected by vibration, and it can be used under difficult conditions. 1939 Jrnl. R. Aeronaut. Soc. XLIII. 544 The strain meter..first made it possible to investigate the behaviour of the fast-moving and more inaccessible parts, such as crankshaft, airscrew, etc., during flight. 1979 Bull. Seismol. Soc. Amer. LXIX. 1983 Four invar-wire strainmeters have been operated in shallow trench sites..beside the San Andreas fault.

1938 Engin. News-Record 10 Mar. 370/3 The strains and stresses computed on the above form are pictured, in relation to the *strain rosette on the plating, in Fig. 6. 1950 J. H. Meier in M. Hetényi Handbk. Exper. Stress Analysis 400 The equi-angular strain rosette..is best suited in cases where the direction of the principal strains cannot be established approximately before test.

1894 J. E. Creighton & Titchener tr. Wundt's Hum. & Anim. Psychol. 247 When we are trying to remember a name or are pondering a difficult problem we notice the presence of *strain-sensations.

1886 T. G. Bonney in Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. XLII. i. 95 Subsequent work..has thrown additional light upon the..kind of cleavage..in which the cleavage-planes cut across the undulating bands of the constituent minerals. Of this structure I possess one or two excellent examples..which makes it clear that the structure is an example of the *strain-slip cleavage (Ausweichungs-Clivage) of Dr. Heim. 1954 J. F. Kirkaldy Gen. Princ. Geol. x. 127 Less perfectly graded rocks..may develop not the true slaty cleavage, due to re-orientation of the minerals, but a strain-slip cleavage, produced by closely spaced planes of movement. 1969 Bennison & Wright Geol. Hist. Brit. Isles vii. 137 The first thrusts have been folded by N-S fairly open folds and associated asymmetric small folds have a strain-slip cleavage.

1922 Joyce Ulysses 714 The cause of a brief sharp unforeseen heard loud lone crack emitted by the insentient material of a *strainveined timber table.

▪ III. † strain, n.³ Obs.
    Also 6 streyne, streen, 6–7 straine.
    [Of obscure origin; cf. MDu., MLG. strene (Du. streen), OHG. streno (MHG. strene, mod.G. strähne), skein, hank.]
    1. A thread, line, streak.

c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 1571 The streynes of her veynes as asure inde blewe. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 22 When the water hath to passe throw so narow passage, it makith the longer iourney and yeldith the smaller thred or streen. 1590 Greene Never too late (1600) G 4, Her face like siluer Luna in her shine, All tainted through with bright vermillion straines. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage vii. xi. (1614) 706 Barrius..is of opinion, That the violent currents of the Tides..raise vp from the bottom that redde floore..and cause, by the motion of the same vnder the water, that rednesse in the vpper face thereof:..and the threeds or straines of this rednesse are lesse in the greater and more spacious Sea-roome.

    2. = strand n.⁴ 1.

c 1586 J. Davys in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 786 The straines of one of our cables were broken.

    3. A barb or filament of a (peacock's) feather. (Cf. strand n.⁴ 3 b.)

1651 T. Barker Art of Angling (1653) 6 Another flie, the Body made of the strain of a Pea Cocks feather. 1662 R. Venables Exper. Angler iii. 28 Take one strain of a Peacocks feather (or if that be not sufficient, then another).

▪ IV. † strain, n.⁴ Obs. rare^—1.
    In 6 strayne.
    [Aphetic f. distrain n. Cf. strain v.²]
    A distraint.

1526 Croscombe Churchw. Acc. (Somerset Rec. Soc.) 38 Ther was payde owtte of the chyrch box for all the parysch whane ther was a strayne taken for the lorde [i.e. of the manor for chief rent], xxs.

▪ V. strain, v.¹
    (streɪn)
    Forms: 4 strayn, strayny, 4–5 streny, streyn, 4–6 Sc. strenȝe, 5–6 stren(e, 4–7 strane, strayne, streine, (7 strein), 4–8 streyne, 6 straigne, -ygne, streigne, -ygne, Sc. strengȝe, strenye, 6–7 straine, 6– strain.
    [ME. streyne, etc., a. OF. estrein-, estreign-, estren-, stem of estreindre, estraindre (mod.F. étreindre) to bind tightly, clasp, squeeze, corresp. to Pr. estrenher, Cat. estrenyer, Sp. estreñir, It. strignere, stringere:—L. stringĕre to bind tightly, to draw tight, tighten: see stringent a.
    The sense ‘to draw tight’ (whence branch II below) is app. not recorded for OF. estraindre, though it was prob. not wholly wanting, as it is the earliest sense to appear in Eng.; the L. stringere was common in this sense. Branches III, IV, and V seem to be purely Eng. developments.]
    I. To bind tightly; to clasp, squeeze.
    1. † a. trans. To bind fast; to confine in bonds. Obs.

1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 7181 Þai salle be..In helle hard bonden,..And straytely streyned ilka lym. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 7207 With a gyrdel off ryhtwysnesse, Thy reynys strongly for to streyne [pour bien estraindre fort les reins]. 1483 Caxton Golden Leg. 177/1 Saynt peter was emprysoned in a strayte place wherin he was strayned. 1513 Douglas æneis ii. vii. 78 Baith hir tendir handis War strengȝeit sair, yboundin hard with bandis.

fig. 1382 Wyclif Num. xxx. 14 If she auowe, and bi ooth streyne hir self [1388 byndith hir silf; Vulg. se constrinxerit]. c 1435 in Kingsford Chron. London (1905) 21 Bondes of Liegeaunce..in which they weren or ben bounden to me, or in eny other wyse Streynyd. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 394/1 And with these woordes of hys own, will I strayne him fast and sure.

    b. To fasten, attach firmly. Const. to, or with together. lit. and fig. Obs. exc. (rarely, influenced by sense 2) with the sense: To attach by compulsion.

1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 109 Kyng Kanute,..þat he myȝte streyne [L. astringeret] þe reme of Engelond more faste unto hym, wedded to his wyf Emme the queene. 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §14 Thorw wich pyn ther goth a litel wegge..þat streyneth alle thise parties to hepe. c 1450 Maitl. Club Misc. III. 201 Item ane salter befor the Licentiatis stal strenyeit. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 59 It is agane the law of luif, of kynd, and of nature, Togidder hairtis to streine, that stryveis with vther. 1530 Tindale Exod. xxxix. 21 And they strayned the brestlappe by his ringes vnto the ringes of the Ephod, with laces of Iacincte. 1856 Merivale Rom. Emp. IV. xxxiv. 105 It was requisite to strengthen and draw closer the bonds which strained them to the conquerors.

    † c. To stanch (blood). Obs. rare^—1.

c 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula etc. 79 Also puluer of vitriol combuste streyneþ blode in euery place if it be putte by itself or with iuyse of any herbe streynyng blode.

    † d. To constrict (the organic tissues). Obs. rare.

1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe i. 8 b, Flewme stiptik or binding,.. hath the tast lyke to grene redde wyne, or other lyke, straynyng the tunge. 1548 Elyot's Dict., Astrictus gustus, a rough or sharpe tast, that streigneth the tongue.

    2. a. To clasp tightly in one's arms. Obs. exc. as in b.

c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1205 This Troilus in armes gan hir streyne. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. ii. 34 So hauing said, her twixt her armes twaine She straightly straynd. 1597 Drayton Heroic Ep., Owen Tudor to Q. Kath. 39 Euen as a mother comming to her child... With tender armes his gentle necke doth straine. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iv. i. 46 Our King has all the Indies in his Armes, And more and richer, when he straines that Lady. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 726 In vain, with folding Arms, the Youth assay'd To stop her flight, and strain the flying Shade.

    b. esp. to strain (a person) to one's bosom, heart, and the like.

1789 C. Smith Ethelinde (1814) V. 297 ‘She is mine!’ continued he; straining her to his bosom. 1809 Campbell Gertrude i. xxiii, He said—and strain'd unto his heart the boy. 1883 F. M. Peard Contrad. xxii, He strained her to him again. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xxxv, He strained her again and again to his heart.

    3. To clasp tightly in the hand. a. † To press, squeeze (another's hand or fingers, a person by the hand) in love or farewell (obs.). Also (rarely), to clasp (one's own hands) forcibly.

1518 H. Watson Hist. Oliver of Castile (Roxb.) C 4, He toke his leue of the quene, the whiche dydde strayne his fyngres togyder at the departynge. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. x. 9 [He said] I gyue you leue, and kyste hym, streynynge hym by the hande, in sygne of great loue. 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 330 She strained her husbands hand, and concluded both her speech and life with these complaining words. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Childr. viii, ‘Mrs. Ferrers,’ cried Lassie, straining her thin hands together, ‘don't break it to me, please. Tell me the whole truth at once.’

    b. To grip, grasp tightly (a weapon, etc.). Obs. or arch.

1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. vii. 21 The one in hand an yron whip did strayne, The other brandished a bloudy knife. Ibid. iii. v. 21 The third brother..droue at him with all his might and maine A forrest bill, which both his hands did straine. 1825 Scott Talism. xv, ‘Name her not..’ said the King, again straining the curtal-axe in his gripe, until the muscles started above his brawny arm.

    † c. Of a bird (esp. a hawk) or beast: To seize (its prey) in its claws. Chiefly absol. Obs.

1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 17528, I Gryppe and streyne lyk a Gryffoun, And faste I holde ther-with-al Coper, yren, and ech metal. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking a vj b, The .ix. [term belonging to hawking] she streynith and not Clithith nor Cratchith. 1530 Palsgr. 738/1, I strayne, as a hauke doth, or any other syche lyke fowle or beest in theyr clawes, je estraings. Were a good glove I reede you, for your hauke strayneth harde. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 214 When they are unable..to performe their parts..as not to be able to flee or strayn y⊇ pray w{supt} their pownces. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. iv. 22 [The bear] Gnashing his cruell teeth at him in vaine, And threatning his sharpe clawes, now wanting powre to straine.

    4. To constrict painfully, as with an encircling cord. Also in wider sense: † To hurt by physical pressure; to pinch.

1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxii. 646 Sancte laurens..be þe areme can hyme strenȝe [brachium ejus strinxit] rycht sayre and Increly. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 8257 Thys glouys bynde me so sore,..And al the remnaunt..off armure, Me streyneth so on euery syde, That [etc.]. c 1500 Kennedy Passion of Christ 379 Thai strenȝeit þai fair handis with a string. 1586 Withals' Dict. (1599) 65, I wot wel where my shooe pincheth or straineth me. 1618 W. Lawson New Orch. & Gard. (1626) 27 Take well tempered morter, soundly wrought with chaffe or horsedung (for the dung of cattell will grow hard, and straine your graffes). 1712–14 Pope Rape Lock iv. 101 Was it..For this with fillets [you] strain'd your tender head? 1830 Tennyson To ― i, The wounding cords that bind and strain The heart until it bleeds.

    † 5. a. To compress, contract, diminish (in bulk or volume); to draw together (the brows). Obs.

1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiv. xlix (Tollemache MS.), [The field is] streynid in winter with froste and with colde, and swellid in somer with brennynge and with hete [L. hyeme gelu et frigore constringitur]. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 57 The see callede Pontus, diffusede from þens towarde the northe makethe the see callede Propontides. And from thens hit is streynede also into vj{supc} passes [L. stringitur in secentos passus]. 1445 tr. Claudian in Anglia XXVIII. 271 Thi yiftes be not streyned In noon smal boke thei may be writen. c 1530 Judic. Urines ii. iii. 17 b, This feuer..is knowen by straynyng togyder of the browis.

    † b. refl. To squeeze oneself through (a narrow passage). Also with out. Obs.

1603 Knolles Hist. Turkes (1621) 1211 By straining himself out at a little window..he in safetie got down to the ground. 1606 S. Gardiner Bk. Angling 37 Some like slimy and slipperie eeles, no sooner find themselues entangled in the nette, but they seeke to wind and straine out themselues. a 1678 Marvell Appleton Ho. 31 As practising, in doors so strait, To strain themselves through Heavens Gate.

    † c. To derive (a word) by contraction. Obs. rare^—1.

1614 Camden Rem., Names 101 Pernel, from Petronilla, Pretty-stone, as Piere and Perkin strained out of Petre.

    † 6. To press hard upon, afflict, distress. Obs.

13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 234 Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxxi. 40 Day and nyȝt with hoot and coolde Y was streynyd [1388 angwischid; Vulg. æstu urebar (? misread urgebar) et gelu]. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2684 And cold as ony frost now waxeth she, For Pite by the herte hire streynyth so. c 1477 Caxton Jason 116 He might not speke..his herte was so closed and strained with anguissh. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. ix. 58 In quhat pvnition, panis, and distres, Bene saulis ȝondir strenȝeit [L. quibusve urgentur poenis]? 1580 G. Harvey Three Proper Lett. 40 Such pleasaunce makes the Grashopper so poore, And ligge so layde, when winter doth her strayne. 1730 T. Boston Mem. vi. (1899) 77 Being strained with this message I laid it before the Lord.

    † 7. a. To bridle, control, restrain. Obs.
    Often with allusion to Ps. xxxi[i]. 9 (Vulg. constringe).

a 1340 Hampole Ps. xxxi[i]. §12 In keuel and bridel streyn þaire chekis. 1340 Ayenb. 263 Þet is to zigge huych mayne to moche slac and wylles uol ssel by: bote yef þe ilke uaderes stefhede hise strayny and ordayny. c 1346 Hampole Prose Tr. 6, I..said þat I wald ryse and blesse vs in þe name of þe Haly Trynytee, and scho strenyde me so stallworthely þat I had no mouthe to speke, ne no hande to styrre. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 176 A stede ful stif to strayne. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 74 Þe loue of Goddis lawe..schuld streyn men fro þis Office. 1414 Brampton Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.) 11 And streyne here chekys fro woordys y-dell, That kan noȝt holdyn here tungys stylle. 1434 Misyn Mending Life 112 Besy kepyng of þi vtward wittis, þat tastyn[g] sauerynge, herynge & seynge vndyr þe bridyll of gouernans wysely be strenyd. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 168/2 So hath God euer kepte man in humilite, straynyng him with y⊇ knowledge of confession of his ygnoraunce. 1533 ― Answ. Poysoned Bk. Ibid. 1054/2 Pray him..to draw you, and as the Prophet sayth to pray him strayn your iawes with a bitte and a brydle. 1558 T. Phaer æneid i. A ij, You gave me might these stormy winds to strain or make to blow. 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 1190 Of men of armes he had but small regard, But kept them lowe, and streigned verie hard. 1595 Hunnis Joseph 42 He did refraine and straine himselfe, as it had not been he.

    † b. To restrict, confine. Obs.

1566 Painter Palace Pleas. I. 260 When they happened to be strayned to straight lodging, the maried gentleman would not sticke to suffer his frend to lye with him and his wife.

    † 8. a. To force, press, constrain (to a condition or an action). Also const. to with inf. Obs.

c 1374 Chaucer Compl. Mars 220 To what fyn made the god that sit so hye, Benethen him, love other company, And streyneth folk to love, malgre hir hede? a 1400 Pauline Epist., 2 Cor. v. 14 (1916) 112 Caritas enim christi urget nos... Forwhy þe charite of crist streynes vs. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 3549, I hope þou wenes at we be like to þire lethire Persyns, Þat þou þi lordschip to loute has now on late strayned. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 94 Folk may nocht be strenȝeit to mak weris. 1528 More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 200/1 The profe..semeth me not very stronge nor able & sufficient to strayne a man to consent therto. 1531 Reg. Privy Seal Scot. 98/1 He is oblist and strenȝeit to mak continuale residence and service at the said chaplanriis. 1551 T. Wilson Logic ii. L ij, Some of these causes worke by the force and violence of nature, some by an outward powre, beyng strained thervnto. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Dk. Glouc. xix, How stoutly we dyd the king strayne The Rule of his realme wholy to resygne. 1595 Shakes. John iii. iii. 46 Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes, And straine their cheekes to idle merriment. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 590 Who doubts but the enemie,..strained by necessitie,..will prey vpon your countries, houses, and goods?

    † b. To incite (a person) to exertion, to urge.

1581 A. Hall Iliad i. 8 Agamemnon, whome anger forward straines.

    † c. To urge, insist upon (a thing). Also absol.

1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 240 Þei schulde teche þat whosoevere approves þis, confermes hit, or streynes hit, he synnes ageyns God. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 260 Hee sheweth howe readie hee is, not onely in taking paines himselfe, but in strayning his friendes ayde also, that such meanes may be wrought. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 250 Note if your Lady straine his Entertainment With any strong, or vehement importunitie, Much will be seene in that.

    † d. To compel to go. Obs.

13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 691 By wayez ful streȝt he con hym strayn [after deduxit per vias rectas, Vulg. Sap. x. 10].

    † 9. a. To extract (liquor or juice) by pressure: to squeeze out. Also intr. Of a juice: To exude.

1483 Cath. Angl. 368/1 To Stren iuse of herbis (or herbys), exsuccare. 1583 H. Howard Defensative I j b, That we may beware of those that strayne Oyle out of a Flint. 1621 H. Elsing Lords' Debates (Camden) 56 That a favourable construccion be made, &c., and not to the squiesing of blood out of wordes... Yt was a greate mistakeing to say ‘to streyne blood out of wordes’. 1707 Curios. Husb. & Gard. 94 These Juices strain out of their own accord.

fig. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 608 [They] Still run on Poets, in a raging vein, Ev'n to the dregs and squeezings of the brain, Strain out the last dull droppings of their sense. 1735 ― Prol. Sat. 182 The Bard..Just writes to make his barrenness appear, And strains, from hard-bound brains, eight lines a year. 1781 Cowper Table-t. 533 From him who rears a poem lank and long, To him who strains his all into a song.

    † b. To extort (money, confessions, etc.). Obs.

1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 184 Por. Then must the Iew be mercifull. Iew. On what compulsion must I? Tell me that. Por. The quality of mercy is not strain'd. 1678 Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. ii. xx. §ii. (1699) 230 His Majesties Advocat is still a party interested, and so should not be allowed to deal with the Witnesses; for thereby he may strain from them what otherwise they would not depone. a 1699 J. Kirkton Secr. Hist. Ch. Scot. (1817) 314 Yet when he or his friends talked in the English parliament, and hade a mind to strain money from it, they spoke of a warre with France.

    II. To tighten, draw tight, stretch.
    10. To extend with some effort; to subject to tension, to stretch. a. To draw tight (a band, bandage, bonds). Also absol.

c 1300 Beket (Percy Soc.) 1475 The straples were istreynd hard ynouȝ. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 297 Binde it [the wart] wiþ a strong þreed, & streine wel þe þred & drawe him awei wiþ þe þreed. 1541 Copland Guydon's Quest. Chirurg. L ij, Hede must be taken to strayne to harde or to loose [upon the hurt place]... And some put to double clothes, and strayne them and sewe them on the place. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 596 But thou, the more he varies Forms, beware To strain his Fetters with a stricter Care.

in fig. context. 1707 Norris Treat. Humility vi. 237 This strains the hard knot of poverty yet harder, and makes it pinch more sensibly. 1757 Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. Wks. 1842 II. 544 There may be a danger in straining too strongly the bonds of government.

    † b. To stretch and hold extended (a body or its limbs on a cross, on the rack, etc.). Obs.

a 13.. Cursor M. 16762 + 126 His armes wore so streyned oute [on the Cross]. a 1400 Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 643 And strayte I-streynet on þe Rode, Streyned to druye on Rode-tre, As parchemyn oweþ for to be. 1483 Caxton Golden Leg. 289/2 He dyde doo strayne and payne them in the torment of Eculee. a 1500 St. Patrick's Purgatory 355 in Brome Bk. 93 Whyll þat þey streynyd forth hys fete [etc.]. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 254 b, Some affirmeth that he was first streyned on lyeng wyde open on the grounde.

    c. To extend and make taut (a line, wire, etc.), to stretch (material on a frame, over a surface, etc.). Also with out.

a 1400–50 Wars Alex. (Dubl. MS.) 792* Than strenys he hys streropes & streȝt vp sittes. Ibid. 840* [He] Stranes owt hys sterops & sternly lokez. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xviii. 25 Ther they founde CCC. caudrons made of bestis skynnes,..strayned on stakes ouer the fyre, full of water. 1539 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. iii. 4. 173 [Five Banners, which] waving & Strayned with the wynde..made a goodly Showe. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 66 b, This house was couered with coardes strayned by craft... Ouer their coardes was streyned wollen clothes of light blew. 1573 in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 201 Nayles to strayne the Canvas. 1605 B. Jonson Volpone iv. i, On the one [wall] I straine me a fayre tarre-paulin; and, in that, I stick my onions, cut in halfes. 1627 Capt. Smith Sea Gram. v. 21 The Ties..doe carry up the Yards when wee straine the Halyards. 1761 Gray Fatal Sisters 6 Glittering lances are the loom, Where the dusky warp we strain. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xvi, The hook is fixed; we will not strain the line too soon. 1820 C. Hayter Introd. Perspective 255 The vellum..must be strained tight, by tacking on a straining frame. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. x. (1842) 257 The temporary cover thus formed fits the mouth of the vessel tightly, is strained level over its surface. 1893 Law Times XCV. 104/2 The barbed wire fence..was strained to posts..6 ft. high.

    † quasi-intr. for pass.

1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xxii. ¶6 He pulls the Cord as hard..as he can; and keeping the Cord straining, whips it again about the Head and other sides of the Page.

transf. and fig. 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. i. ii, Although the mystic vayle straind ouer Cynthia Hinders my sight from noting all thy crue. 1634 J. Robinson Lawfulness of Hearing Ministers Wks. 1851 III. 360 To strain the strings of this imagined proportion to make them meet, and to suppose the church to be as the altar, yet [etc.].

    d. To tighten up (the strings of a musical instrument) so as to raise the pitch. Also with up.

1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 377 Mercurius..putte seuene strenges to þe harpe..and þey putte to þe strenges and streyned [L. strinxit] hem in þis manere. 1587 Golding De Mornay i. 4 Not so much as two strings beeing of one selfesame nature, can agree in one tune, without the wit of a man that can skil to streine them and to slacke them as he seeth it good. 1626 Bacon Sylva §184 Wherby you shall discouer..the Proportion likewise of the Sound towards the String, as it is more or lesse strained. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 244/1 The sympathetic strings were..strained to pitch..by means of additional pegs.

fig. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. iv. iii, Castilio, Forobosco, all Straine up your wits, winde up invention Unto his highest bent. a 1626 Breton Daffodils & P. (Grosart) 20/2 A harte (not harpe) is all her instrument, Whose weakned stringes all out of tune she stranes. 1781 Cowper Truth 385 Man..in ev'ry sense a wretch, An instrument, whose cords, upon the stretch, And strain'd to the last screw that he can bear, Yield only discord in his Maker's ear.

    † e. To stretch (cloth) fraudulently. Obs.

1514–15 Act 6 Hen. VIII c. 9 The byer..shall not..streyne nor do to be streyned in bred the same Clothes..by teyntour or wynche. c 1560 Maldon (Essex) Docum. Liber B. fol. 55 b, Whether they shalbe stretched or streyned or pressed with the hott presse.

    † f. To extend (a thing), to stretch to the full length. Also with forth, out. Also intr. for refl.

1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. vi. (1495) 111 The eye shall not be straynyd to ferre oute nother areryd to hyghe. c 1450 J. Capgrave St. Gilbert xl. 120 In hir creping þe senewes whech were contract be-fore in hir lendes [loins], þei brak and streyned oute to swech largenesse þat [etc.]. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 47 Olyuer..aroos oute of hys bedde and began for to scratche [? read stratche] and strayne hys armes and to fele yf it were possyble to hym to bere armes.

    † g. To elongate by hammering. Obs.

1674 Ray Collect. Words, Wire Work 132 They take little square bars, made like bars of steel and strain i.e. draw them at a Furnace with a hammer..into square rods.

    11. fig. a. To force the meaning or sense of (words, an ordinance, decree, etc.); † to distort the form of (a word). Also absol.

1449 Pecock Repr. i. xi. 58 The vndirstonding, bī which summen streynen forto speke of the writing which we han now of the Newe Testament. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iv. i. 75 Wor. This absence of your Father drawes a Curtaine [etc.]... Hotsp. You strayne too farre. I rather of his absence make this vse: [etc.]. 1604 ― Oth. iii. iii. 218, I am to pray you, not to straine my speech To grosser issues. 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. i. 14 The ancient German names beeing by latin or other authors strayned and drawn vnto their ortography, according to their fancies. 1614 Ralegh Hist. World iii. i. §8. 15 Neuerthelesse wee finde many and good Authors, who..are well contented to straine these prophecies with vnreasonable diligence vnto such a sense. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. (1675) Pref. 16 If..I may have at any time a little Strain'd the Similitude, the better to accommodate it to my present Theme, and Design. 1753 Challoner Cath. Chr. Instr. 170 The Protestant Translation has strained the Text to make it say more than the Original. 1785 Burke Sp. Nabob of Arcot's Debts Wks. 1842 I. 341 And, lastly, and above all, not to be fond of straining constructions, to force a jurisdiction. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 488 Defective laws should be altered by the legislature, and not strained by the tribunals. 1884 Law Rep. 27 Chanc. Div. 638, I think that..I am not straining the effect of the order in saying so.

    b. To transgress the strict requirements of (one's conscience), to violate the spirit of (one's oath).

1592 Kyd Sp. Trag. iii. iv. 8 And he that would not straine his conscience For him that thus his liberall purse hath stretcht, Vnworthy such a fauour may he faile. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 618/2 They make noe more scruple to pass [judgement] agaynst an Englishman, and the Queene, though it be to strayne theyr othes, then to drinke milke unstrayned. 1877 Owen Wellesley's Desp. Introd. 16 The exigencies of the war..had induced Lord Cornwallis to strain his conscience so far as to write a letter, which was to have the binding force of a Treaty.

    c. To force (prerogative, power, etc.) beyond its legitimate extent or scope.

1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vii. §9 The temperate use of the Prerogative [of Q. Elizabeth], not slackened, nor much strayned. 1733 Pope Ess. Man iii. 290 'Twas then, the studious head..Taught Pow'r's due use to People and to Kings, Taught not to slack, nor strain its tender strings. 1883 Froude Short Stud. IV. i. x. 108 The Crown retains prerogatives at present which would be fatal to it if strained.

    † d. To apply or use (a thing) beyond its province. Obs.

1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. ii. iii. 19 Nor ought so good, but strain'd from that faire vse, Reuolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse. 1599 ― Much Ado iv. i. 254 For to strange sores strangely they straine the cure. 1621 in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1906) 269 He denyeth that hee hath any way taxt the Councell or strained his pen..beyond due bounds or reason. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 229 Nothing marreth the life and spirit of the invented things so much, as to force and strain them to a fore-determined purpose. 1647 Hamilton Papers (Camden) 146 Because you had assured me you were to goe out of town I strained not the time that prest me exceedingly.

    e. to strain a metaphor (see quot.).

1783 Blair Lect. I. xv. 313 If the resemblance..be long dwelt upon, and carried into all its minute circumstances we make an allegory instead of a metaphor... This is called straining a Metaphor.

    f. to strain a point: to exceed one's usual limits of procedure, to do more than one is bound to do or go further than one is entitled to go in a matter. Cf. stretch v.

1596 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (ed. 2) 401 He would not sticke to straine a point, so that he might glorifie Saint Thomas thereby. 1661 Godolphin View Adm. Jurisd. Introd. [a 5], In time of war they strain a point to drive a Colourable Trade. 1757 Sir B. Keene Desp. 26 Sept. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. i. 219 Tho' we should have strain'd a Point to serve Him. 1857 G. A. Lawrence Guy Liv. xxxiv. 343 We've not quite so much proof as I could wish. It would be straining a point to arrest him, as it stands. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 393 You must be generous, strain point, and call Victory, any the least flush of pink Made prize of.

    † g. To insist upon unduly, to be over-punctilious about. Obs.

1665 Dryden Ind. Emperor iii. ii, I'le not strain Honour to a point too high; I sav'd your Life, now keep it if you can. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 99 ¶5 In Books of Chivalry, where the Point of Honour is strained to Madness.

    h. to strain courtesy: see courtesy n. 1 c.
    † i. To raise to an extreme degree. Obs.

1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxviii. ii. 327 To the end that a duple authority, and the same strained to the height [L. erectaque sublatius], might patch matters together. 1612 Capt. Smith Virginia 28 All their actions, voices and gestures, both in charging and retiring, were so strained to the hight of their quallitie and nature, that [etc.]. 1697 Dryden æneis vii. 536 Nor yet content, she strains her Malice more, And adds new Ills to those contriv'd before.

    j. to strain up: to force up to a higher scale of estimation; to ‘screw up’ (rents, usury) to an oppressive rate.

1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 218 In all places they are permitted to streine up their Vsury to eighteene in the hundred upon the Christian. 1769 Blackstone Comm. iv. xi. 142 Both of these species are also either felonious, or not felonious. The felonious breaches of the peace are strained up to that degree of malignity by virtue of several modern statutes. 1905 Westm. Gaz. 23 Aug. 8/2 ‘What is to be understood by {oqq}straining rents{cqq}?’..‘I have known houses, built to let at 11s. a week, gradually strained up to 14s.’

    k. To raise to a high state of emotional tension.

1667 Milton P.L. viii. 454 My earthly by his Heav'nly overpowerd, Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth In that celestial Colloquie sublime,..sunk down, and sought repair Of sleep. 1820 Lamb Elia Ser. i. South-sea House, While he held you in converse, you felt strained to the height in the colloquy. 1867 H. Macmillan Bible Teach. ii. (1870) 31 Each sense was strained, by the sublimity around, to its utmost tension.

    l. To make excessive demands upon, tax severely (resources, credit, friendship, etc.). Also, † to tax severely the resources of (a person).

1609 Dekker Ravens Alm. F 1, The Farmer carefull of his day, because he knew the hard conscience of the Usurer, straind himselfe and his friends, and prouided the money. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xxi. 140 Great spirits, having mounted to the highest pitch of performance, afterwards strain and break their credits in striving to go beyond it. 1673 Essex Papers (Camden) I. 57, I am much deceiv'd if they are not willing to straine themselves very far on any such publick acc{supt}. 1798 in Owen Wellesley's Desp. (1877) 754 The Company have, from such considerations, strained their own means to put their servants on the most liberal footing. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxii. IV. 701 The King had strained his private credit in Holland to procure bread for his army. 1888 Burgon 12 Gd. Men II. xi. 308 There were occasions..when Eden strained those friendships severely. 1912 Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. 712 His [Burke's] succour to the distressed French exiles had strained his scanty resources to the breaking-point.

    m. To raise (matters, relations between parties) to a dangerous state of tension. Cf. strained ppl. a.

1671 Milton Samson 1348 Consider, Samson; matters now are strain'd Up to the highth, whether to hold or break.

    12. a. To stretch (sinews, nerves, muscles) beyond the normal degree (as the supposed condition of intense exertion); hence, to force to extreme effort, exert to the utmost (one's limbs, organs, powers). to strain every nerve (fig.): to use one's utmost endeavours.

1446 Lydg. Nightingale Poems ii. 73 This bridde..Syngeth as that she wold hir-self dismembre, Streyneth hir throte, peyneth hir brest at al. 1548 Elyot's Dict. s.v. Intendo, I must streigne a sinew or stretche a veyne, to begyle this olde man. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 261 To make them al amends therfore in the behoofe of one, I must straine mine abilitie. 1584 Cogan Haven Health i. 3 They streine more one part of the body than an other, as shooting the armes, running the legges, &c. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iii. iii. 94 He sweats, Straines his yong Nerues, and puts himselfe in posture That acts my words. 1671 Milton Samson 1646 This utter'd, straining all his nerves he bow'd. 1777 Johnson Let. Mrs. Thrale 27 Oct., Some strain their powers for efforts of gaiety. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxx, That memorable discharge of fireworks..which Master Laneham..has strained all his eloquence to describe. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. II. v. i, All Constitutional Deputies did strain every nerve. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. I. 345 This last exercise only operates on the arms and chest, but the others strain every muscle in the frame. 1855 Kingsley Heroes iv. iii. (1868) 251 His father sat..and strained his old eyes across the sea, to see the ship afar. 1856 N. Brit. Rev. XXVI. 158 When we view them with two eyes..the muscles of the eyeball are not strained. 1894 Miss L. Alma-Tadema Wings of Icarus 159, I strained my ears in vain for a sound.

    b. intr. for refl. of the eyes or ears.

1855 Browning Ch. Roland xviii, No sound, no sight as far as eye could strain. 1943 J. Wedge in K. Rhys More Poems from Forces 313 Ears are straining for a distant ‘boom’.

    c. To force (the voice) above its natural compass.

1913 Times 14 May 8/5 He seemed to be straining it [sc. his voice] upon the high notes.

    d. Photogr. (See quot.)

1890 Woodbury Encycl. Dict. Photogr. 385 But if brought nearer than a certain point, the lens will be what is termed ‘strained,’ and the image will become dreadfully distorted.

    13. To injure or alter by excessive tension. a. To injure (a limb, muscle, tendon, etc.) by stretching or over-exertion; to sprain. Also refl. of a person or animal.

1612 Benvenuto's Passenger i. iv. 313, I haue strayned one of my feete. 1711 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 3 Oct., I have strained the thumb of my left hand with pulling him. 1726 ― To Janus 22 Prudes decay'd about may tack, Strain their necks with looking back. 1788 A. Hughes Henry & Isab. IV. xxxiii. 240 Mrs. Maitland, having..strained one of her ancles. 1890 Conan Doyle White Company xxviii, I strained a sinew on the day that I slew the three men at Castelnau. 1891 M. Roberts Land-travel & Sea-faring 131 Devilskin strained himself..by treading on a loose stone. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 18 Nerves and muscles may be acutely ‘strained’. The word is placed between inverted commas to shew that it is used in its popular sense... Whether this is due to the stretching of fine nerve-twigs it is scarcely possible to decide.

    b. To impair or imperil the strength of (a material thing) by excessive tension or disruptive force.

1730–46 Thomson Seasons, Autumn 320 Strained to the root, the stooping forest pours A rustling shower of yet untimely leaves. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. 10 July (1815) 222 Crossing a deep gutter, made by a torrent, the coach was so hard strained, that one of the irons which connect the frame snapped. 1859 Tennyson Enid 1007 But Geraint's [lance], A little in the late encounter strain'd, Struck..home, And then brake short. 1868 Chamb. Jrnl. 13 June 381/2 The ship had strained herself a good deal, owing to the heavy cargo of railway-iron she had stowed in her hold. 1884 Law Times LXXVII. 26/2 A tug towed at her for an hour and a half before she was got off, during which time her decks and waterways were much strained.

    c. Physics. (See quot. 1856.) Also intr. for refl.

1850 Rankine Misc. Sci. Papers (1881) 82 When the body is strained, therefore, the pressure is the resultant of the variations of all those forces, arising from the displacements of the atomic centres from their natural relative positions. 1856 Sir W. Thomson in Phil. Trans. CXLVI. 481 If a stone, a beam, or a mass of metal, in a building, or in a piece of framework, becomes condensed or dilated, in any direction, or bent, or twisted, or distorted in any way, it is said to experience a strain, to become strained, or often in common language, simply ‘to strain’. 1879 Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. i. §154 Thus a rod which becomes longer or shorter is strained.

    III. To press through a filtering medium, to filter. (Cf. 9.)
    14. a. To press (a liquid) through a porous or perforated medium which keeps back the denser portions or the solid matter held in suspension; to free (solid matter) from the contained or accompanying liquid by this process; to purify or refine by filtration. Also absol.
    In mod. use to strain is to pass through a medium having visible pores, as hair-cloth or muslin, while to filter refers to the use of a medium such as paper, a layer of charcoal, a bed of sand, etc.

c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. 210 Thise Cookes, how they stampe, and streyne [L. alius contundit et colat], and grynde And turnen substaunce in-to Accident. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. lx. (1495) 897 Fyrste vyneygre is sodde wyth necessary herbes..thenne the vyneygre is streynyd and clensyd. c 1420 Liber Cocorum 9 Take ryse..And þorowgh a strynour þou hom strene. Ibid. 40 Breke eyren and streyne hom thorowghe a clothe. 1523–34 Fitzherb. Husb. §44 Styrre it aboute, and than streyne it thorowe an olde clothe. 1591 A. W. Bk. Cookrye 5 b, Then..strain the yolkes of Egges with Vinager, and put them into your broth. Ibid. 9 b, Then straine a little bread and put it in. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 330 First an Osier Colender provide Of Twigs..(such toiling Peasants twine, When thro' streight Passages they strein their Wine). 1731 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. i. 269 Some people have such an aversion to them [snails] that they can't gett down any liquid into w{supc}{suph} they are but strain'd. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 668 Macerate for fourteen days in a stopped glass bottle, and strain. 1826 Art Brewing (ed. 2) 153 The juice must then be strained through a coarse hair-sieve, to keep back its grosser particles. 1901 J. Black Carp. & Build., Home Handicr. 50 Boil a little common size.., strain through muslin into a clean pan.

    b. said of natural agencies.

1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 562 Three fountaines walme out of the ground streined, as it should seeme, through a veine of Alum. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) I. 194 [He] contends that rivers must be supplied from the sea, strained through the pores of the earth.

    c. transf. and fig.

1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 5 Of þe whiche þinges our litel konnynge myȝte nouȝt take knowleche,..but besines of writers to oure vnkunnynge hadde i-holde and i-streyned mynde of olde dedes [L. transfunderet.. memoriam transactorum]. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet in Lyly's Wks. (1902) III. 402, I will boyle thee, straine thee, and then drie thee, so that of a lubber,..I will at last make a dram of knaues powder. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. v. 169 Faith and troth, Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing: Bids thee..welcome. 1662 E. Hopkins Funeral Serm. (1685) 21 So a Christian, when he is strained through the grave, loseth all his brackishness, all his dreggs and scumme, and becomes pure and holy. 1785 Cowper Task ii. 438 The nasal twang Heard at conventicle, where worthy men, Misled by custom, strain celestial themes Through the prest nostril, spectacle⁓bestrid. 1819 Shelley Cenci v. ii. 169 Judge. Let tortures strain the truth till it be white.

    d. To remove (liquid) by filtration, drain off. Const. from. Also with out, off.

15.. in Oxf. Archd. Will Reg. (N. & Q. 11th Ser. 1914, IX. 268/1) Then streyne the licour from the barley. 1558 Warde tr. Alexis' Secr. 40 Let it boyle..vntil it be diminished of the third part, than straine it out softly. 1640 T. Brugis Marrow of Physicke ii. 142 Straine all the thin water from them through a faire Cloth. 1747 H. Glasse Cookery 12 Let it [the gravy] stew till it is quite rich and good; then season it to your Taste with Salt, and then strain it off. Ibid. 15 Then take out your Tripe and strain the Liquor out.

fig. 1848 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) I. 275 It is a translation of a translation, in which the beauties of Plato are strained off by a double process.

    ¶ e. To take out (something) from a liquid by straining.
    This use seems hardly to occur exc. in strain out a gnat (after L. excolare), † strain a gnat, in Matt. xxiii. 24. (For the better known rendering of this text see 21.)

1526 Tindale Matt. xxiii. 24 Ye blinde gydes which strayne out a gnat and swalowe a cammyll. [So also 1535 Coverdale, 1539 Cranmer, 1560 Geneva.] 1564 Brief Exam. *******b, None of them..did strayne a Gnat, and swallowe a Camell. 1582 N.T. (Rheims) Matt. xxiii. 24 That straine a gnat. 1589 Warner Alb. Eng. vi. xxxi. (1602) 153 Precisians..In Loue doe swallow Cammels, whilest they nicely straine a Gnat. 1616 B. Parsons Magistr. Charter 23 Straine not out gnats, then, neither swallow downe camels. 1881 Bible (R.V.) Matt. xxiii. 24 Which strain out the gnat.

    15. a. intr. for refl. To filter; to trickle. Also fig.

1588 Marlowe 2nd Pt. Tamburl. iii. iv, I feele..all my entrals bath'd In blood that straineth from their orifex. 1594 Kyd Cornelia iii. iii. 118 My griefe is lyke a Rock, whence (ceaseles) strayne Fresh springs of water at my weeping eyes. 1626 Bacon Sylva §1 The Sea water passing or Strayning through the Sandes, leaueth the Saltnesse. 1725 Bradley's Family Dict. s.v. Honey ¶6 To the end that the Honey may strain gently through the Bag. 1897 F. T. Jane Lordship, Passen, & We v. 57 The speech that he made was a tidy long one... It all strained out to telling us how that we should make up to the Radicals.

    b. Of a stream: To flow. rare.

1612 Drayton Poly-olb. i. 226 So Touuy straineth in. Ibid. vi. 343 But, backe, industrious Muse; obsequiously to bring Cleere Seuerne from her sourse; and tell how she doth straine Downe her delicious Dales. 1915 J. Buchan Nelson's Hist. War III. xxi. 98 The river [Oder] in many places strains in mazy channels and backwaters among isles matted with dwarf willows and alders.

    16. trans. To sow or let fall (seed) in a furrow (i.e. not broadcast). Also with in. local.

1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farm. 28 By this one Ploughing may be sown Beans, either strained in the Thoroughs,..or else by sowing the Beans all over the Field. Ibid. 80 Strain in the Acorns by a Man's Hand in two Thoroughs. Ibid. 333 Peas are sowed by straining them in Thorough by Thorough.

    IV. To exert oneself. (Cf. sense 12.)
    17. refl. To exert oneself physically. In later use, to exert oneself so as to be in danger of injury. Now rare or Obs.

13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 551, & þenne þe fyrst by-gonne to pleny & sayden þat þay had trauayled sore, Þese bot an oure hem con streny. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 233 Whan he streyneth hym to streche þe strawe is his schetes. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2809 Slike a seknes for-sothe is on my-selfe halden, Þat I ne may streyne me ne stere for stondis so hard. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xviii. xvii. 755 Syre Launcelot strayned hym self soo straytly with soo grete force to gete the hors forward that the buttom of his wound brast. 1538 St. Papers Hen. VIII, I. 586 They do yet best, consideryng His Grace is yet tendir, that he shuld not streyn hym self..till he come above a yere of age. 1580 J. Hester tr. Fioravanti's Disc. Chirurg. 27 b, [For those ruptured.] Keepe thy house with as much ease as thou mayest, and strayne not thy selfe in any wise. 1640 Brome Sparagus Garden iv. vii, Hold, sir, hold, pray use this whistle for me, I dare not straine my selfe to winde it I.

fig. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 11 Sathan hath streyned himselfe too the vttermost too bring in such things.

    18. intr. a. To make violent and continuous physical effort; to exert oneself to the utmost. Also with forward, together.

1340–70 Alisaunder 349 Steedes stirred of þe stede strane men under. 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) B iij, After that these two knightes had longe ynough strained together. 1592 Arden of Feversham iv. iv. 72 Come, Francklin, let vs strain to mend our pace. 1654 Vilvain Enchir. Epigr. iii. lxxix. 75 b, The six first Princes for the kingdom strained, But it by a slight horstrick Darius gained. 1704–13 Pope Windsor Forest 155 See the bold youth strain up the threat'ning steep. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 194 The patience with which he had seen a boatman on a canal strain against an adverse eddy. 1853 G. Johnston Nat. Hist. E. Bord. I. 18 A man would strain to leap its current. 1862 [Pycroft] Cricket Tutor 33, I am far from sanctioning the fashion of straining forward at balls which there is plenty of time to play back. 1893 Bridges Founder's Day, Eton v, Or whether..dashing The oars of cedar skiffs, ye strain Round the rushes and home again.

    b. spec. of a deer. (See quot. 1575.)

1575 Turberv. Venerie 242 Termes of the Hart... When he bounceth by vpon all foure, then he tryppeth, and when he runneth verie fast, then he streyneth. 1735 Somerville Chase iii. 543 As o'er the Turf he [the stag] strains. 1810 Scott Lady of L. i. vii, Nor nearer might the dogs attain, Nor farther might the quarry [stag] strain.

    c. transf. of a thing viewed as endowed with power to make effort. Also with along.

1819 Byron Juan ii. xiii, The wind sung, cordage strain'd, and sailors swore. 1858 in Merc. Marine Mag. V. 200 The ship straining along under a heavy press of sail. 1863 Mrs. Gaskell Sylvia's L. iii, [A] courtyard in which there grew two or three poplars, straining upwards to the light.

    d. To pull forcibly (at a rope, leash, rein).

1791 Cowper Odyss. xv. 353 Then, straining at the halyards, hoised the sail. 1825 Scott Talism. xxiv, King Richard looked..at the Nubian and his dog; but the former moved not, nor did the latter strain at the leash. 1871 Tyndall Fragm. Sci. (1879) I. vi. 197 The blue-jackets strained in concert. 1881 Daily Tel. 28 Jan., The brig..mounted the seas as though she were straining at a chain cable.

fig. 1808 Scott Marm. i. Introd. 92 When the frantic crowd amain Strain'd at subjection's bursting rein.

    † e. trans. To direct (one's steps) hastily; to make (one's passage) with effort. Obs.

1579 H. C. Forest of Fancy F j b, Straight wayes my steppes I straind To bewties bower and there ariude. 1760 Ann. Reg. 24/2 In straining their passage thro' morassy ground several soldiers dropped down on their march.

    19. intr. To use one's utmost endeavours; to strive vigorously. Const. to with inf., after, for, to (the attainment of some object).

1593 Drayton Ecl. v. 152 Stay there good Rowland, whether art thou rapt, beyond the moone that striuest thus to strayne. 1607 Shakes. Timon i. i. 143 This Gentleman of mine Hath seru'd me long: To build his Fortune, I will straine a little, For 'tis a Bond in men. 1683 W. Lloyd in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 188, I will strein hard to allow him 20 li a year. 1721 Swift Wonder of Wonders 6 When in Office, no one..does his Business better. He hath sometimes strained hard for an Honest Livelyhood. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 58 ¶3 They are unable..to strain in the race of competition, or to stand the shock of contest. 1797 Monthly Mag. III. 226 They exhibit the author as straining after novelty by eccentric distances, and by movements out of cathedral time. 1828 D'Israeli Chas. I, I. vi. 175 Both sides were straining to reconcile the most repulsive difficulties. 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iii. §41. 149 A mind open to all theories but straining after none. 1890 Goschen Sp. Ho. Comm. 18 Apr., in Hansard 908 In case of war every one strains for gold.

    20. † a. To retch, heave, make efforts to vomit.

1679 V. Alsop Melius Inquir. i. i. 41 They swallowed them [the articles] with some Reluctancy, and are now reaching and straining with many a sowre face, to disgorge..the Hook of the Article. 1727 Swift Poison. E. Curll Misc. 1732 III. 19 He..fell a vomiting and straining in an uncommon and unnatural Manner.

    b. To make efforts to evacuate the bowels; more fully to strain at stool. Also with down.

1645 Milton Colast. 13, I send them by his advice to sit upon the stool and strain. 1797 Underwood Dis. Childhood (1799) III. 192 They [sc. young children] should be set on the chair, and not suffered to play until they have had an opening, for which they should strain. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. III. 981 The patient should be directed to strain down, as this action will give a view of the interior of the anus. 1899 Ibid. VI. 839 Straining at stool may be the immediate cause of the rupture of a retinal vessel. Ibid. VII. 244 When the patient was made to strain, as at stool, the rate of flow of the fluid was doubled.

    21. to strain at: to make a difficulty of ‘swallowing’ or accepting (something); to scruple at. Also (rarely), † to strain to do something.
    This use is due to misunderstanding of the phrase ‘strain at a gnat’ in Matt. xxiii. 24. It has been asserted that ‘straine at’ in the Bible of 1611 is a misprint for ‘straine out’, the rendering of earlier versions (see 14 e). But quots. 1583 and 1594 show that the translators of 1611 simply adopted a rendering that had already obtained currency. It was not a mistranslation, the meaning intended being ‘which strain the liquor if they find a gnat in it’. The phrase, however, was early misapprehended (perh. already by Shakes. in quot. 1609), the verb being supposed to mean ‘to make violent effort’ (see sense 18).

[1583 Greene Mamillia ii. B 3 b, Most vniustly straining at a gnat, and letting passe an elephant. 1594 J. King On Jonas (1599) 284 They have verified the olde proverbe in strayning at gnats and swallowing downe camells. 1611 Bible Matt. xxiii. 24 Ye blind guides, which straine at a gnat, and swallow a camel.]

1609 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iii. iii. 112 (Qo. 1) Vliss. I do not straine [Fol. (hypermetrically) straine it] at the position, It is familiar, but at the authors drift. 1670 South Serm. (1727) III. 110 He who hates his Enemy with a Cunning equal to his Malice, will not strain to do this or that good Turn for him, as long as it does not thwart..the main Design of his utter Subversion. 1677 R. Witty Gout Raptures To Rdr. A 5 b, If any man strain at the Verse which is not in the usual mode, let him read the Lyrick Poets in Greek, who I think have taken more liberty then I. 1737 Gentl. Mag. VII. 546 The old Proverb, Strain at a Gnat, and swallow a Camel.

    † V. 22. a. trans. To use (the voice) in song; to play upon (an instrument). b. To utter in song. c. intr. To sing. Obs.
    Of uncertain origin; possibly developed from 10 d and 12. The related senses of strain n.² (11–12) seem to be derived from this use of the verb, but have prob. reacted upon it.

a. 1580 Lyly Euphues Wks. 1902 II. 58 Vnder a sweete Arbour of Eglentine, the byrdes recording theyr sweete notes, hee also strayned his old pype, and thus beganne. Gentle-menne, [etc.]. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus C ij b, Hark how the strumpet can straine her voice, to delighte with her deceite. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xi. ii, First let the priests..With sacred hymnes their holy voices straine. 1601 W. Percy Cuckqueanes & Cuckolds Errants iii. v. (Roxb.) 40 Then let the Goldsmith now for to streyne him, while I my self beare, to him, a Burden. 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. i. v, Intreat the musick straine their instruments With a slight touch. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xv. ccxc, As to the Confines of the spheres they drew, His Harp and Voice their Chanter strein'd as high.

b. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 66 With this the Shepheard was mute..: but at length..to..make his olde Mistris some new musicke, he strained foorth this dittie. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. v. 28 It is the Larke that sings so out of tune, Straining harsh Discords, and vnpleasing Sharpes. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xi. cclxiii, He..strein'd his Ejulation To Horror's tune.

c. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. v, First let their voyces strain for musicks price. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. ii. 7 But as my subiect serues, so hie or lowe to straine. Ibid. xii. Argt., The Muse..Relating many glorious deeds, Of Guy of Warwick's fight doth straine.

▪ VI. † strain, v.² Law. Obs.
    [Aphetic form of distrain v. Cf. strain n.⁴]
    a. trans. To distrain (a person). Const. for. = distrain v. 7.

c 1450 Godstow Reg. 506 That they may streyne hym in all his tenementis, and hold the distreynynges, tille hit were fully I-satisfied of the arrerages of the forsaid rente. 1489 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 102 To Sperdour to pass to strenȝe Alexander Cambell for siluer he wes awande. a 1500 Paston Lett. Suppl. 167 Or ellys a wolle dystrayne me..as a hath strayne [sic] my tenenttes byfore for thys mater and costys. 1607 Melrose Regality Rec. (S.H.S.) I. 36 The judge..ordanis the officer to poynd and strenze the defendar for thrette thre schilingis four pennyis.

    b. absol. or intr. To levy a distress. Const. for, on, upon (a thing), of, on (a person or thing). = distrain v. 8.

1503 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 178 They should either have the rent, or be suffered to streyne on such guds as they fond on the ground. Ibid. 180, I wold have streaned, but ther could no man shew me which was your ground. 1511 in Exch. Rolls Scot. XIII. 445 note, Unlawis, amerciamentis, and eschutis..[to] raise and uplift and for the samyn to strenye gif neid beis. 1586 Acts Privy Counc. (1897) XIV. 88 Then shall he [the Sheriff] straine uppon his landes and goodes for the payment thereof. 1633 Rowley Match at Midn. i. i, Smith. [This is] A vice sir, that I would faine bee furnisht with a little money upon 't... [I bought it] of a fat Cooke, that strain'd of a Smith for's rent. 1636 in Parish Bks. St. Julian's, Shrewsbury (MS.) I. 16 It: paid for 5 warants to Strayne on those who refuse to pay. 1675 in J. P. Earwaker E. Cheshire (1877) I. 116 Spent when we went to straine of the Quakers, Is 8{supd}. 1697 in Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 523 He wold demand, collect, or strain for y⊇ sd assessment. a 1718 W. Penn Wks. (1726) I. 673 Fining and Straining for Preaching and being at a Meeting.

fig. 1647 Trapp Comm. 1 Cor. ix. 17 God will strain upon no man. All his servants are a free people.

    c. trans. To seize (goods) by way of distress = distrain v. 9.

1455 in W. Fraser The Lennox (1874) II. 72 All our gudis mouable and vnmouable.., for to be tane, strenzet, poundyt, and..to be away hade. 1467 Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls Bundle 43. no. 3v, In his voydyng the said Gate streynyd the goodis & cattells that he fownde within the said place. 1529 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. V. 380 Item,..to the currouris that past to streneȝe the bischop of Sanctandrois gudis for the temporalitie of Dunfermling iiij li. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Pignus, A man may not..seise or strayne ones ploughe in way of distresse. 1576 Gascoigne Steele Glas 1102 When baylifes strain, none other thing but strays. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 1176/1 To strain a mans goods, pignora cædere.

▪ VII. strain, v.³
    (streɪn)
    [f. strain n.¹]
    intr. a. to strain back: to go back in pedigree (to an ancestor).

1856 H. H. Dixon Post & Paddock ii. (1860) 35 Tomboy strains back to Sorcerer, through Jerry and Smolensko. 1871 Daily News 7 Dec., One of his exhibits strains back to the Gledmere flock.

    b. to strain after: to inherit the characteristics of.

1888 Mrs. J. H. Riddell Nun's Curse I. vi. 97 You do not ‘strain after’ most of your family, for there has not been a Conway of Calgarry..that could bear to hear the truth.

Oxford English Dictionary