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strainedmore about strained

strained

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Strain  \Strain\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Strained};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Straining}.]  [OF.  estraindre  estreindre  F.  ['e]treindre, 
  L.  stringere  to  draw  or  bind  tight;  probably  akin  to  Gr  ?  a 
  halter,  ?  that  which  is  squeezwd  out  a  drop,  or  perhaps  to 
  E.  strike.  Cf  {Strangle},  {Strike},  {Constrain},  {District}, 
  {Strait},  a.  {Stress},  {Strict},  {Stringent}.] 
  1.  To  draw  with  force;  to  extend  with  great  effort;  to 
  stretch;  as  to  strain  a  rope;  to  strain  the  shrouds  of  a 
  ship;  to  strain  the  cords  of  a  musical  instrument.  ``To 
  strain  his  fetters  with  a  stricter  care.''  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  (Mech.)  To  act  upon  in  any  way  so  as  to  cause  change  of 
  form  or  volume,  as  forces  on  a  beam  to  bend  it 
 
  3.  To  exert  to  the  utmost;  to  ply  vigorously. 
 
  He  sweats,  Strains  his  young  nerves.  --Shak. 
 
  They  strain  their  warbling  throats  To  welcome  in  the 
  spring.  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  To  stretch  beyond  its  proper  limit;  to  do  violence  to  in 
  the  matter  of  intent  or  meaning;  as  to  strain  the  law  in 
  order  to  convict  an  accused  person. 
 
  There  can  be  no  other  meaning  in  this  expression, 
  however  some  may  pretend  to  strain  it  --Swift. 
 
  5.  To  injure  by  drawing,  stretching,  or  the  exertion  of 
  force;  as  the  gale  strained  the  timbers  of  the  ship. 
 
  6.  To  injure  in  the  muscles  or  joints  by  causing  to  make  too 
  strong  an  effort;  to  harm  by  overexertion;  to  sprain;  as 
  to  strain  a  horse  by  overloading;  to  strain  the  wrist;  to 
  strain  a  muscle. 
 
  Prudes  decayed  about  may  track,  Strain  their  necks 
  with  looking  back  --Swift. 
 
  7.  To  squeeze;  to  press  closely. 
 
  Evander  with  a  close  embrace  Strained  his  departing 
  friend.  --Dryden. 
 
  8.  To  make  uneasy  or  unnatural;  to  produce  with  apparent 
  effort;  to  force;  to  constrain. 
 
  He  talks  and  plays  with  Fatima,  but  his  mirth  Is 
  forced  and  strained.  --Denham. 
 
  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained.  --Shak. 
 
  9.  To  urge  with  importunity;  to  press;  as  to  strain  a 
  petition  or  invitation. 
 
  Note,  if  your  lady  strain  his  entertainment.  --Shak. 
 
  10.  To  press,  or  cause  to  pass,  through  a  strainer,  as 
  through  a  screen,  a  cloth,  or  some  porous  substance;  to 
  purify,  or  separate  from  extraneous  or  solid  matter,  by 
  filtration;  to  filter;  as  to  strain  milk  through  cloth. 
 
  {To  strain  a  point},  to  make  a  special  effort;  especially,  to 
  do  a  degree  of  violence  to  some  principle  or  to  one's  own 
  feelings. 
 
  {To  strain  courtesy},  to  go  beyond  what  courtesy  requires;  to 
  insist  somewhat  too  much  upon  the  precedence  of  others  -- 
  often  used  ironically.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Strained  \Strained\,  a. 
  1.  Subjected  to  great  or  excessive  tension;  wrenched; 
  weakened;  as  strained  relations  between  old  friends. 
 
  2.  Done  or  produced  with  straining  or  excessive  effort;  as 
  his  wit  was  strained. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  strained 
  adj  1:  lacking  natural  ease;  "a  labored  style  of  debating"  [syn:  {labored}, 
  {laboured}] 
  2:  under  great  stress;  "her  voice  was  strained  as  she  asked  the 
  question" 
  3:  lacking  spontaneity;  not  natural;  "a  constrained  smile"; 
  "forced  heartiness";  "a  strained  smile"  [syn:  {constrained}, 
  {forced}] 
  4:  struggling  for  effect;  "agonistic  poses"  [syn:  {agonistic}]




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