strain vb. (7 cf. ‘strain at a gnat’ Matt. xxiii. 24 in 1611 Bible, where earlier versions have, however, more correctly, ‘strain out’)
1.
to embrace H8 IV. i. 46.
2.
to exert to the
utmost
Ado IV. i. 254
“to strange sores
strangely they the cure,”
1H6 I. v. 10,
Tim. V. i. 232
“ what other means
is left unto us”
; intr. to exert oneself
Tim. I. i. 144
“To build his fortune I
will strain a little.”
3.
to press, urge
Oth. III. iii. 250
“if your lady his
entertainment.”
4.
to force, constrain
Rom. II. iii. 19.
5.
to exceed bounds
Wint. III. ii. 51*
“With what encounter so
uncurrent I Have s-'d, to appear thus;”
“ too far,” put an exaggerated
construction on matters 1H4 IV. i.
75.
6.
“
courtesy,” (i) be punctiliously polite,
stand upon ceremony, refuse to go first
Ven. 888
“They all courtesy who
shall cope him first”
; (ii) act with less than due courtesy Rom. II. iv. 57*
“in such a case as mine a man
may strain courtesy.”
7.
“
at,” find difficulty in
Troil. III. iii. 112
“I do not at the
position.”
