straiten
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pray don't straiten your lips in that grievously defiant fashion, as Perpetua doubtless did when she heard the bellowing of beasts or the clash of steel in the amphitheatre.
From Infelice by Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)
They said, "O Sir, it is long betwixt meals, and we are in a starving condition; all is good, sweet and wholesome that you deliver; but why do you so straiten us?"
From Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies by Howie, John
What shall we do to spread the wing and soar, Nor straiten thy deliverance any more?
From A Book of Strife in the Form of The Diary of an Old Soul by MacDonald, George
Cæsar's men daily carried on their works to straiten the enemy; those of Pompey, having the advantage of numbers, did the same to enlarge themselves, and severely galled the enemy by their slingers and archers.
P: Lodge them where ye dwell, according to your wealth, and harass them not so as to straiten life for them.
From Three Translations of The Koran (Al-Qur'an) side by side by Ali, Abdullah Yusuf
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.