Category:Strict

Strict, a. [compar. Stricter; superl. Strictest.] Etym: [l. strictus, P.p. of stringere to draw or bind tight, to strain. See strain, and Cf. Strait, a.]

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

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

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously nice; as, to keep strict Watch; to pay strict attention. Shak. 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." Milton.

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

6. (bot.)

Defn: upright, or straight and narrow; -- said of the shape of the Plants or their flower clusters.

Syn. -- 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. (r. C. Ch.) See observance.