Straiten

Pronunciation: /streɪtən/

Definitions of straiten

verb to make something difficult or cause hardship

Example Sentences

A1 I am straitening my tie before the job interview.

A2 She straitened her posture as she walked into the room.

B1 The new regulations may straiten small businesses trying to expand.

B2 The economic downturn has straitened many families financially.

C1 The political turmoil has straitened the country's ability to make progress.

C2 The restrictions imposed by the government have straitened the freedom of the press.

Examples of straiten in a Sentence

formal The economic downturn will straiten the budget of many businesses.

informal I'm worried that unexpected expenses will straiten us this month.

slang I can't go out tonight, I'm straitened for cash.

figurative The loss of a loved one can straiten the heart with grief.

Grammatical Forms of straiten

• past tense: straitened
• plural: straiten
• comparative: more straitened
• superlative: most straitened
• present tense: straiten
• future tense: will straiten
• perfect tense: have straitened
• continuous tense: is straitening
• singular: straitens
• positive degree: straiten
• infinitive: to straiten
• gerund: straitening
• participle: straitening

Origin and Evolution of straiten

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'straiten' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old French word 'estreit', which comes from the Latin word 'strictus' meaning 'drawn tight'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'straiten' has evolved to mean to restrict or limit someone or something, often causing difficulty or hardship.