| 释义 |
strained, ppl. a.|streɪnd|
[f. strain v.1 + -ed1.]
1. Subjected to physical tension. Of a rope, etc.: Stretched tight.
1640J. Gower Ovid's Festiv. iv. 82 The strained ropes mens toilsome hands do wring. 1769J. Granger Biogr. Hist. Eng. II. 563 One represents her dancing on a strained, the other vaulting on a slack rope. 1854Pereira's Polarized Light (ed. 2) 143 The immediate effect of heat on one part of a piece of glass is to put all the surrounding parts into a strained state. 1859Jephson Brittany iv. 39 Their well-formed ankles [shown to advantage] by their tightly strained black stockings. 1869Rankine Machine & Hand-tools Summary Princ. 1 If a previously strained body, upon the removal of the stress, recovers its free shape, it is said to be perfectly elastic. 1888T. Watts Burd. Armada in Athenæum 18 Aug. 224/2 And now, amid the tempest's din Each Spaniard in the strained Vasana pales.
2. Of a part of the body: Injured by over-exertion of the muscles, etc. Said also of an animal suffering from such an injury.
1611Cotgr., Seton,..the rowelling, or roping of a bruised, or strained horse. 1753Richardson Grandison (1754) II. x. 64 A wry face, and a strained neck, denoting her difficulty to get down but a lark's morsel. 1829J. Lawrence Horse 185, I have, now and then, heard of a strained ankle as the consequence [of a lady's jumping from her saddle]. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 175 These cases..which are often called ‘strained back,’ etc.
3. Of the voice, gaze, attention, ‘nerves’, etc.: Exerted by an abnormal effort or to an abnormal degree. Of look or expression: Showing signs of nerve-tension.
a1542Wyatt Penit. Ps. xxxii. Proem. 32 Wt strained voyce againe thus cryth he. 1577Kendall Flowers of Epigr. 80 With strained throates God saue the kyng they crie, and crie alowde. 1606Wotton Life & Lett. (1907) I. 343 Whom welcoming with a very high and strained voice. 1697Congreve Mourn. Bride ii i. 19 O my strain'd Heart. 1806T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. I. 75 Fixing his strained eyes upon a portrait of Dr. Enfield which hung over the chimney. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xv, The person who sung kept a strained and powerful voice at its highest pitch. 1841Dickens Barn. Rudge lxi, With eager eyes and strained attention. 1863Mrs. Oliphant Salem Chapel xxi, Afraid to relax her strained nerves even by leaning back or forward. 1908R. Bagot A. Cuthbert xxviii. 368 The strained, drawn expression, telling of mental suffering.
4. Of conduct, demeanour, gestures, etc.: Produced under compulsion or by deliberate effort; artificial, forced, not spontaneous or natural.
c1400Rom. Rose 7325 My lemman, Streyned-Abstinence [m'amie Contrainte-Astenance]. 1588W. R. Engl. Ape 23 Theyr strayned modesty, and theyr counterfayte coynesse. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV i. i. 161 (Qo.) This strained passion doth you wrong my lord. 1612Two Noble K. iii. iii. 56 Foole, Away with this straind mirth. 1628Feltham Resolves i. vi. 13 If you search for high and strained Carriages; you shall for the most part, meete with them, in low men. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. xiii, Thoroughly used to him as he was, he found something new and strained in him [sc. his friend] that was for the moment perplexing. 1898Kipling Day's Work 210 The strained, eye-shirking talk at dinner till the servants had withdrawn.
5. Of language, construction put upon words or actions, etc.: Employed or interpreted in a laboured, far-fetched, or non-natural sense; wrested or distorted from the natural meaning or intention; pressed, forced. Of a conception, supposition, etc.: Pushed beyond what is natural or reasonable.
c1600Shakes. Sonn. lxxxii. 10 When they haue deuisde What strained touches Rhethorick can lend. 1651Hobbes Leviath. iii. xlii. 304 Which is a strange, and very much strained interpretation. 1747Ld. Chanc. Hardwicke in G. Harris Life (1847) I. 374, I own I thought this a strained construction, and did not scruple to say so. 1768H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 64 There is nothing strained in the supposition of Richard's sparing his nephew. 1857C. B[athurst] Rem. Differ. Shaks. Versif. 42 There is nothing pompous, strained, ranting. 1885Law Times LXXVIII. 386/2 Surely this is rather a strained construction to put upon the 26th section?
6. Of a regulation, enactment, prerogative, etc.: Pushed or urged beyond what is equitable. Of personal relations, a situation, etc.: Subjected to a dangerous degree of tension, forced to a point where a rupture becomes imminent.
1735tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. x. i. §2 IV. 273 Was it not a wise amendment of what was too strained and excessive in that law of Lycurgus? 1880Daily News 2 Nov., The situation was thought ‘strained’ even in a disturbed Oriental country. 1899P. H. Brown Hist. Scot. ii. ii. I. 77 The peace between the two kings was of short duration. On the Easter following their treaty a trifling incident again placed them in strained relations. 1911Craik Edward Earl of Clarendon I. iii. 69 Charles..resolved to summon a Parliament. The first step in the surrender of a strained prerogative was taken.
7. Passed through a strainer or colander.
1591A. W. Bk. Cookrye 12 So boyle them in the broth and thicke it with strained bread. 1596P. Barrough Meth. Phisick (ed. 3) 436 To the strained decoction, put the iuice of quince peares and pomegranates. 1611Cotgr., Pressis, cullisses, or strained meats. 1675H. Woolley Gentlew. Comp. 131 A Gallandine-sauce made with strained Bread, Vinegar [etc.]. 1731Arbuthnot Aliments iii. (1735) 68 If the Plant be boil'd in the same Water, the strain'd Liquor is call'd the Decoction of the Plant. 1871Garrod Mat. Med. (ed. 3) 170 Reduce the strained liquor to three pints.
fig.1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. iv. 26 (Qo.), Cressid I loue thee in so strain'd a purity.
†8. Having a strain or melody; formed into melody. Obs.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. i. (Arb.) 79 The harmonicall concents of the artificial Musicke, consisting in strained tunes. 1601Weever Mirr. Mart. lxxix. B 8 Whose strayned ditties most melodicall.
Hence ˈstrainedly adv., ˈstrainedness.
1571Golding Calvin on Ps. ix. 7. 27 Others more streynedly interpret it. 1639N. N. tr. Du Boscq's Compl. Woman ii. 59 Hence it is they live with so much strainednesse, and that there is nothing even or natively done in their behaviours. 1697G. Keith 2nd Narr. Proc. Turner's Hall 26 He unfairly and strainedly defends G. Fox's words. 1891H. C. Halliday Someone must suffer I. viii. 184 She entered, smiling rather strainedly. 1901Strainedness [see over-elaboration s.v. over- 29 d]. |