Straiten — Defs

01 v. t. To make strait; to make narrow; hence, to contract; to confine.

imp. & p. p. Straitened; p. pr. & vb. n. Straitening

1.
To make strait; to make narrow; hence, to contract; to confine.
“Waters, when straitened, as at the falls of bridges, give a roaring noise.” — Bacon.

“In narrow circuit, straitened by a foe.” — Milton.
2.
To make tense, or tight; to tighten.
“They straiten at each end the cord.” — Pope.
3.
To restrict; to distress or embarrass in respect of means or conditions of life; -- used chiefly in the past participle; -- as, a man straitened in his circumstances.