strictness etymology

Etymology:

• Old French: estroitesse ("narrowness")
• Vulgar Latin: strictus ("drawn tight")
• Latin: stringere ("to draw tight, bind")

Meaning:

• Adherence to strict rules, principles, or standards
• Severity or rigidity in enforcing or maintaining those rules
• Lack of flexibility or compromise

Origin:

The word "strictness" comes from the Latin verb "stringere," which means "to draw tight" or "to bind." In its original sense, the word referred to the physical act of tightening something, such as a rope or a garment. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to refer to a more metaphorical sense of tightness or constriction, such as the adherence to strict rules or regulations.

In the 13th century, the word "strictness" entered the English language through the Old French word "estroitesse," which also meant "narrowness" or "constriction." The use of "strictness" to refer to the adherence to rules and standards became more common in the 16th and 17th centuries, as religious and social reformers sought to promote stricter adherence to moral codes and religious doctrines.

strictness relate terms

• strict

  Etymology Strict Latin strictus drawn tight tense Meaning Adhering to a se

• strain

  Etymology Old French estreindre Latin stringere Proto Indo European strenk