[-NESS.] The quality or condition of being strict.
† 1. In physical senses: Narrowness, straitness; tightness, close compression. Obs.
1604. R. Cawdrey, Table Alph., Strictnes, narrownes or smalnes.
1605. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 372. That strictnes of the gate that leadeth into blisse.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, viii. 193. They are repleated with grosse humors with a naturall strictnes of the veines.
1709. Phil. Trans., XXVII. 73. When their Force is inhibited by the strictness of the Pores, they are unable to remove.
† 2. Closeness (of friendship or intimacy). Obs.
c. 1614. Cornwallis, in Gutch, Collect. Cur., I. 138. He desired as great a strictness, and nearness of amity and alliance, as might be, between the Crowns of England, and Spain.
3. Severity of life or behavior; inflexibility of principle or virtue.
1578. Lyly, Euphues, Wks. 1902, I. 315. Thou hast therefore … great cause to reioyce, that God by punishment hath compelled thee to strickenesse of lyfe.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Maid’s Trag., II. i. (1619), D 3 b. Evad. Alas Amintor thinkst thou I forbeare To sleepe with thee, because I haue put on A maidens strictnesse.
1650. Hubbert, Pill Formality, 52. They can change their habits of strickness into a habit of looseness and profaneness.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club), 175. All the nuns are English, of the order of the Recolly, who are but a degree above the Capucines for strickness.
1800. Mrs. Hervey, Mourtray Family, 37. The governess was a French woman, strongly recommended for the strictness of her principles.
a. 1901. W. Bright, Age of Fathers (1903), I. ii. 18. A genuine enthusiasm for Christian strictness.
4. Severity, rigor, stringency (of laws, enactments, obligation, judgemnt, discipline, etc.).
1602. Rowlands, Greene’s Ghost (1872), 9. They will vrge the strictnesse of their oath, and the danger of the law in such cases of concealement.
1660. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), I. 359. The strictness of the Lord’s day was mitigated.
1699. T. Baker, Refl. Learn., iii. 22. Priscian himself … notwithstanding his strictness in giving Rules … has much ado to preserve himself from Barbarism.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1727), VI. 430. They never understood the fiery Strictness of the Law, nor the Spirituality of the Gospel.
1861. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 47. Peace and order were maintained by police regulations of German minuteness and strictness.
1909. Blackw. Mag., March, 311/2. The strictness of the Jain observances varies a great deal, according to the sect.
5. Closeness of watch or scrutiny.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 510. In consequence of this intimation, Pierre Landart was watched with the greatest strictness.
6. Rigorous accuracy or precision in statement, interpretation, investigation, and the like.
1638. Sanderson, Serm., Ad Aulam, vii. (1681), II. 97. Divine (especially Prophetical) expressions, are not ever tied to such strictnesses.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. vii. I … gave to every point a more favourable turn, by many degrees, than the strictness of truth would allow.
1787. J. Mitford, Plead. Suits Chanc. (ed. 2), 232. In pleading there must in general be the same strictness in equity as at law.
1885. Law Rep., 28 Chanc. Div. 97. A clause which this Court has always been in the habit of construing with the greatest strictness.
b. Phr. In strictness: taken or understood strictly; according to a strict conception, definition or interpretation. More explicitly in strictness of speech, of law, etc.
1641. Wilkins, Math. Magick, II. i. (1648), 145. But in its strictnesse and propriety, it is onely appliable unto fresh inventions.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 135. In cases wherein things in conscience ought to be done, yet for want of some formalities or niceties they cannot in strictness of law be exacted.
a. 1691. Boyle, Chr. Virtuoso, II. Wks. 1772, VI. 748. I chose to take in … several that perhaps did not in strictness belong to the Christian Virtuoso.
1692. Atterbury, Serm. (Ps. l. 14) (1726), I. 7. Praise and Thanksgiving do, in Strictness of Speech, signify things somewhat different.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., IV. xliv. 188. Dr. Herschel even goes so far as to suppose that there is not, in strictness of speaking, one fixed star in the heavens.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 639. She was undoubtedly guilty of what in strictness is a capital crime.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, 6. The term Post-pliocene ought in strictness to include all geological monuments posterior in date to the Pliocene.
1870. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (ed. 2), I. App. R. 595. Neither of these Kings were, in strictness of speech, deposed.
