Also 5 strictture. [a. L. strictūra, f. strict-, stringĕre, really two etymologically distinct verbs of coincident form in Latin: the one (whence branch I below) with the sense to bind tightly, draw tight, strain; the other (whence branch III) with the senses to touch lightly, to gather (flowers), to draw (a sword). Cf. F. stricture (16th c. in Littré) = sense 1 below.]
I. A binding, tightening.
1. Path. A morbid narrowing of a canal, duct or passage, esp. of the urethra, œsophagus or intestire.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 199. If þere be ony þing to take awei þerof as akynge ouþer ony strictture, ouþer ony byndyng, þan remeue awey þat first [etc.].
1797. M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 340. The most ordinary diseased appearance of the urethra is stricture.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Observ., 209. A similar plan of conduct is very suitable to strictures of the œsophagus.
1846. J. Miller, Pract. Surg., 269. Stricture of the Windpipe. Ibid., 407. Stricture of the Rectum.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 575/1. Stricture of the Pylorus.
2. gen. in various occasional uses: The action of binding or encompassing tightly; tight closure; restriction. rare.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Disc. ix. 116. Christ came to knit the bonds of government faster by the stricture of more religious tyes.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XXII. 186. Within the stricture of this palace wall To keep inclos’d his masters till they fall.
1731. Arbuthnot, Aliments, vi. (1735), 158. For the lateral Vessels, which lie out of the Road of Circulation, let gross Humours pass, which could not if the Vessels had their due degree of Stricture.
1812. J. J. Henry, Camp. agst. Quebec, 103. Bred at home under the strictures of religion and morality.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xviii. I defy chemistry … and every other occult art, were it as secret as hell itself, to unloose the stricture of my purse-strings.
1822. Wordsw., Eccl. Sonn., I. Seclusion, 12. Like ivy, round some ancient elm, they twine In grisly folds and strictures serpentine.
1849. D. G. Mitchell, Battle Summer (1852), 103. The theatres are rejoicing in their license; old strictures are removed, and what managers will, is put upon the scene.
1889. Stevenson, Master of Ballantrae, v. A windless stricture of frost had bound the air. [Cf. quot. 1686 in 4.]
† II. 3. A spark, flash of light. lit. and fig. Obs.
[The L. stricturæ in Virg. Æn. viii. 421 was formerly interpreted ‘a spark from the anvil’; hence this use, which when figurative blended with sense 4.]
1627. J. Doughty, Serm. Divine Myst. (1628), 4. Flashes and strictures of lightning doe indeed enlighten the eye, but … they doe also hurt it.
1651. Manton, Comm. James iii. 9. 379. Yea in the Body there were some rays and strictures of the divine Glory and Majesty.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Stricture, a spark that flies from a piece of iron red hot, when it is beaten.
1666. Spurstowe, Spir. Chym. (1668), 17. These two tapers which enlighten the same room, do not shine with a Divided … light,… and yet the Eye … cannot difference the raies and strictures that flow from them.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, Pref. Amidst the barbarity and darkness which reign in Lapland, there appear strictures of light which will entertain the eie of the most knowing observer.
III. A touching slightly or in passing.
† 4. A touch, slight trace. Obs.
a. 1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., II. i. (1675), 289. In the actions of many brute creatures, there are discernable some footsteps, some imperfect strictures and degrees of Ratiocination.
1674. W. Bates, Harmony Div. Attrib., iv. 55. There are some weak strictures of Truth in lapsed Man, but they dye in the Brain, and are … ineffectual as to the Will.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man. (1677), 63. Whatever may be said of other matters, certainly the first draughts and strictures of Natural Religion and Morality are naturally in the Mind.
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. iv. 198. We need not wonder at some stricture of Frost occurring.
1695. J. Edwards, Perfect. Script., 573. They surpass all humane wisdom, yet … they have strictures of all arts and sciences.
5. An incidental remark or comment; now always, an adverse criticism.
1655. Hammond, Acc. Cawdrey’s Triplex Diatribe, 289. What now followes § 35, is so far from having any weight in it, that I must not allot any solemn answers to it, the lightest strictures will be more proportionable.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., II. xi. 401. These are the chiefest strictures that do occurre to my minde in the Prophetick Visions that are applicable to this second member of Antichristianism.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., ix. 218. At the foot of the page I have in some places subjoind a few little strictures principally of antiquity, after the manner of annotations.
1779. Johnson, L. P., King (1781), II. 276. He bestowed some strictures upon Dr. Kennet’s adulatory sermon at the funeral of the duke of Devonshire. Ibid. (1781), Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 20 Oct. We may now and then add a few strictures of reproof.
1790. Cook’s 3rd Voy., V. 1658. Here ends Mr. Anderson’s strictures on Otaheite, and its neighbouring islands.
1804. L. Murray, Gram., Advt. to 9th Ed., note. The author conceives that the occasional strictures, dispersed through the book, and intended to illustrate and support a number of important grammatical points, will not … appear to be dry and useless discussions.
1831. D. E. Williams, Life & Corr. Sir T. Lawrence, II. 383. His profession had a right to expect from him a series of strictures upon the works of the great masters.
1878. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 101. Beaufort … was unsparing in his strictures.
1910. Q. Rev., April, 321. Her [Lady Westmorland’s] strictures on some sightseers in Berlin reveal some knowledge of art.
