Meaning & use
straitly
Last updated
Meanings
adverbarchaic
In a strict or severe way; with strict rules or close control.
Grammar: Modifies a verb or a whole clause: 'He straitly ordered them to leave.'
Patterns
- straitly command/order someone
- straitly charge someone to do something
- speak straitly to someone
The king straitly ordered that no one should enter the city after dark.
She straitly charged her servants to guard the door all night.
The old law was straitly enforced in those days.
adverbarchaicliterary
In a narrow or confined way; with little space or few options.
Grammar: Usually describes movement through a narrow place or a life lived with few choices.
Patterns
- go straitly through a place
- be straitly confined
- live straitly
The path ran straitly between high walls of rock.
They were straitly confined in a small room for many days.
Common combinations
- straitly command
- The captain straitly commanded his men to keep silent.
- straitly charge someone
- He straitly charged them not to speak of it.
- straitly forbid
- The elders straitly forbade any music during the fast.
- straitly observe a rule
- The monks straitly observed the rule of silence.
- speak straitly
- She spoke straitly to the boy about his duty.
Synonyms and how they differ
- strictly
- The modern everyday word; use it instead of 'straitly' for rules and orders.
- severely
- Stronger and more about harsh punishment than about close control.
- narrowly
- Fits the 'little space' sense better than the 'strict rule' sense.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: straitly or straightly? straitly or strictly?
straitly vs straightly
Means 'in a straight line' or 'directly'; 'straitly' is about strictness or narrowness, not direction.
straitly vs strictly
The modern equivalent for rules; 'straitly' is archaic and sounds biblical or old-fashioned.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'straitly' correctly in its archaic sense?
Choose one answer.
'Straitly' means strictly or severely, so it fits an order given with strict authority. 'Straightly' would fit the road sentence; 'explained' and 'smiled' do not carry the sense of strict command.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “straitly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.