Edit page | Page history | Printable version

strict

1. Strained; drawn close; tight; as, a strict embrace; a strict ligature.

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

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict watch; to pay strict attention. It shall be still in strictest measure. (milton)

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

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

6. (Science: botany) upright, or straight and narrow; said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.

Synonym: Exact, accurate, nice, close, rigorous, severe.

Strict, Severe. Strict, applied to a person, denotes that he conforms in his motives and acts to a principle or code by which he is bound; severe is strict with an implication often, but not always, of harshness. Strict is opposed to lax; severe is opposed to gentle. And rules as strict his labored work confine, As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line. (pope) Soon moved with touch of blame, thus eve: - What words have passed thy lips, adam severe!' (milton) The Strict observance, or friars of the Strict Observance.

See observance.

Origin: L. Strictus, p.p. Of stringere to draw or bind tight, to strain. See Strain, and cf. Strait.