straightenv.
/ˈstreɪt(ə)n/ 1.
a. transitive. To make straight (what is bent or crooked); also with out. With up, to bring on to a straight or level course.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > straightness > make straight [verb (transitive)]
unfoldc890
evenOE
rightc1275
rectifyc1475
straight1530
unbow1538
straighten1542
unarch1598
uncrisp1598
uncurl1598
undouble1611
untuck1611
unwind1614
bendc1616
unbend1663
unwarp1670
evolve1689
unwrap1859
unkink1891
dekink1957
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 235 A thing is said in latin corrigi, & in englyshe to be emended or streightened, yt is reproued or disallowed, and also that of crooked is made straight.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iv. viii. 184 A crooked stick is not streightned vnlesse it be [etc.].
1641 F. Quarles Enchyridion (new ed.) iv. xcix While he [a child] is a tender Twigge, streighten him.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 69 The crooked Scythes are streightned into Swords. View more context for this quotation
1727 H. Bland Treat. Mil. Discipline 41 The Soldiers are immediately to straiten their Ranks and Files.
1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Third 25 Virtue..Straitens Nature's Circle to a Line.
1751 A. McDouall Inst. Laws Scotl. I. 282 The incloser may apply to the judge ordinary..to visit the ground, straiten and regulate the marches with the best conveniency.
1765 D. Angelo School of Fencing (ed. 2) 7 In these motions the arm should be straitned.
1775 J. Adair Hist. Amer. Indians 425 They can fresh stock their guns..and streighten the barrels, so as to shoot with proper direction.
1844 A. W. Kinglake Eothen xix. 317 I straightened myself in my stirrups.
1855 T. R. Jones Gen. Outl. Animal Kingdom (ed. 2) ii. 33 The delicate..stems of the Vorticellæ, which on the slightest touch shrink into spiral folds, and again straighten themselves to their full extent.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. vii. 76 He is sitting up congratulating himself that he can nearly straighten his worst leg.
1904 E. H. Coleridge Life & Corr. Ld. Coleridge II. 287 He did not like hard work, but he straightened himself and bowed to the yoke.
1911 C. Grahame-White & H. Harper Aeroplane 136 Instead of performing the evolution which is known as ‘straightening up’ a machine, just before coming into contact with the ground, M. Chavez continued on his downward course, at a steep angle, and struck the ground with great violence.
b. In hand wool-combing: To comb wool for the second time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > treating or processing textile materials > treating or processing wool > treat or process wool [verb (transitive)] > comb or tease
break1511
touse1599
carminate1604
tum1615
scribble1681
stock-card1728
straighten1886
1886 W. Cudworth Rambles round Horton vii. 75 She ‘jigged’ and he ‘straightened’.
2. To unravel, disentangle, clear up (what is confused or intricate). Also transferred of persons: to put (someone) right, esp. by explanation. Now chiefly with out.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > expound, explain [verb (transitive)]
arecchec885
unloukOE
overrunOE
sutelec1000
trahtnec1000
unfolda1050
belayc1175
openc1175
onopena1200
accountc1300
undo?a1366
remenea1382
interpret1382
unwrap1387
exploitc1390
enlumine1393
declarec1400
expoundc1400
unplait?c1400
enperc1420
planea1425
clearc1440
exponec1440
to lay outc1440
to give (also carry) lightc1449
unwind1482
expose1483
reducea1500
manifest1530
explicate1531
explaina1535
unlock?1536
dilucidate1538
elucidate1538
illustrate1538
rechec1540
explicate1543
illucidate1545
enucleate1548
unsnarl1555
commonstrate1563
to lay forth1577
straighten1577
unbroid1577
untwist1577
decipherc1586
illuminate1586
enlighten1587
resolvec1592
cipher1594
eliquidate1596
to take (a person) with one1599
rivelc1600
ravel1604
unbowel1606
unmist1611
extricate1614
unbolta1616
untanglea1616
enode1623
unperplexa1631
perspicuate1634
explata1637
unravel1637
esclarea1639
clarify1642
unweave1642
detenebrate1646
dismystery1652
undecipher1654
unfork1654
unparadox1654
reflect1655
enodate1656
unmysterya1661
liquidatea1670
recognize1676
to clear upa1691
to throw sidelight on1726
to throw (also cast, shed) light on (also upon)1731
eclaircise1754
irradiate1864
unbraid1880
predigest1905
to get (something) straight1920
disambiguate1960
demystify1963
society > communication > information > enlightenment > enlighten [verb (transitive)] > undeceive
to bring (a person) to reasona1400
to set (also put) someone right1551
unhoodwink1585
undeceive1598
unbeguile1599
disabuse1611
disdeceive1622
disinveigle1635
clarify1642
unconfound1649
uncheat1650
undelude1651
ungull1652
unpervert1655
unseduce1664
unbewilder1668
unclouda1711
disillude1860
disillusionize1861
disillusion1864
de-bamboozle1919
straighten1956
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. I. ii. viii. sig. N/1 So that to iudge, is to streighten and to make plaine.
1894 D. L. Moody in W. R. Moody & A. P. Fitt Life D. L. Moody (1900) Pref. 5 What I want is that you should correct inaccuracies and misstatements that it would be difficult to straighten out during my life.
1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner xxxii. 341 Marguerite took occasion to congratulate herself,..in the fact that..‘things’ were beginning to straighten themselves out.
1900 H. C. Beeching in Monthly Rev. Nov. 88 There are not a few moral questions that I should like to hear straightened out.
1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues iv. 53 Excuse me, Mom, I'm sorry, but I got to straighten this whore out.
1979 W. Styron Sophie's Choice xii. 355 Look, Sophie, you're confusing me. Straighten me out. Please.
3. To put in order, tidy up. Also in slang use (see quot. 1970).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > put in (proper) order [verb (transitive)] > put in order or tidy
redeOE
slick1340
redda1500
prepare1585
spruce1594
rid1599
snod1608
to clear up1762
snug1787
ted1811
tidy1821
side1825
fix1832
to pick up1853
mense1859
straighten1867
square1909
neaten1942
society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (transitive)] > pay a creditor
satisfy1426
repaya1530
dischargea1560
clear1609
to meet with1854
straighten1946
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > tell the truth [verb (transitive)]
sayOE
tellc1330
nevena1375
straighten1970
1867 in J. Lucas Stud. Nidderdale (1882) 281 Cum don on thi' bonnet an' shawl, An' streighten thi' cap an' thi' hair.
1884 Manch. Examiner 28 Nov. 5/2 An English mob..eager to straighten up their difficulties and begone before the Riot Act was read.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer xiii We straightened the horses after a bit—there was two dead and one with a broken leg.
1901 C. L. Antrobus Wildersmoor 297 I'll send Granny up here to straighten things a bit.
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues xii. 216 I'm short a deuce of blips but I'll straighten you later.
1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 110 Straighten, to straighten someone is to tell her or him the truth or to pay back money borrowed.
1973 C. Himes Black on Black 198 I had to get them people straight and get 'em straightened fast.
4.
a. intransitive. To become straight. to straighten up (originally U.S.): to rise to an erect posture; slang, to adopt an honest course of life; also in gen. use, to adopt a straight or level course. Similarly to straighten out (also figurative).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > straightness > become straight [verb (intransitive)]
rectify1598
unbend1815
unarch1885
undouble1889
straighten1891
unkink1972
society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > reform [verb (intransitive)]
risec1175
amenda1275
menda1400
reform1582
reclaim1625
to turn down a leaf1633
to take up1661
repair1748
mend1782
to go straight1888
to straighten up1891
the world > space > relative position > posture > upright or erect posture > be in upright or erect position [verb (intransitive)] > assume
perka1591
strut1607
erect1626
cock1650
to straighten up1891
society > trade and finance > payment > payment of debt > pay debt [verb (intransitive)]
quit1378
recompense1742
clear1753
settle1788
square1821
to straighten up1914
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [verb (intransitive)] > adopt straight or level course
to straighten up1914
to straighten out1917
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > specific flying operations or procedures > [verb (transitive)] > bring on to straight or level course
to straighten up1914
1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed xiii. 256 Dick's shoulders straightened again, for the words lashed like a whip.
1897 Trans. Amer. Pediatric Soc. 9 168 After a series of such oscillations..he straightens up, regains his breath, and the paroxysm ends with a long, sighing inspiration.
1907 J. Webster Four-pools Myst. (1916) xix. 198 He has been dishonest, but unintentionally so. He wishes to straighten up and lead a respectable life.
1914 H. Rosher In Royal Naval Air Service (1916) 37 I just managed to flatten out and straighten up a little as I hit the ground sideways.
1917 Times 5 July 6/5 Two machines..swerved and one started to fall for some hundreds of feet before it straightened out and regained flying speed.
1921 Rev. of Reviews Aug. 99/2 The..expectations..that the Silesian tangle was straightening out have proved quite illusory.
1939 G. B. Shaw In Good King Charles's Golden Days i. 31 Newton straightens up and stares.
1940 W. Faulkner Hamlet i. ii. 36 All of a sudden they [sc. mules] straightened out and I mind how I was thinking what a good thing it was they was pointed away from the wagon when they straightened out.
b. colloquial. To settle up an account or debt (with someone).
ΚΠ
1915 D. H. Lawrence Let. Dec. (1948) 66 But I haven't had the bill yet: I will straighten up with you when it comes.
1966 Amer. Speech 41 297 Straighten up, pay a bill.
5. transitive. To bribe or corrupt. Also with out. slang (originally U.S.).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > illegal payment or exaction > [verb (transitive)] > bribe
meedOE
underorna1325
corrump1387
forbuy1393
hirec1400
wage1461
fee1487
under-arearc1503
bribe1528
grease1528
money1528
corrupt1548
budc1565
to feed with money1567
to put out a person's eyes with (a gift, bribe, etc.)1580
sweeten1594
to grease the fist or (one) in the fist1598
over-bribe1619
to buy off1629
palter1641
to take off1646
buy1652
overmoneya1661
bub1684
to speak to ——1687
to tickle in the palm1694
daub1699
overbuy1710
touch1752
palm1767
to get at ——1780
fix1790
subsidize1793
sop1837
to buy over1848
backsheesh1850
nobble1856
square1859
hippodrome1866
see1867
boodleize1883
boodle1886
to get to ——1901
reach1906
straighten1923
lubricate1928
to keep (someone) sweet1939
sling1939
to pay off1942
bung1950
1923 E. Wallace Missing Million xxiii. 182 They said they'd tried to straighten you.
1960 Observer 24 Jan. 5/2 The boys either knocked off a hut where they knew gelly was kept or straightened a quarry man.
1976 J. O'Connor Eleventh Commandment v. 67 I didn't fancy being in the hands of the Wiltshire police. I couldn't straighten them, but I had one in London straightened.
1982 Observer 15 Aug. 22/4 Somebody who has been successfully bribed to do something has been ‘straightened out’.
Derivatives
ˈstraightened adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > straightness > [adjective] > made straight
dressedc1384
straightened1667
unwound1707
the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > longitudinal extent > [adjective] > increasing in length > drawing out forcibly or tightly > drawn out forcibly or tightly
straightly1422
stented1513
reached1579
intended1590
stretched?1605
well-drawn1611
strained1640
distended1665
straightened1667
1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour v. ii. 57 Fasten the Engines; stretch 'um at their length, And pull the streightned Cords with all your strength. [They fasten them to the rack, and then pull them.]
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 125 In which case offer him a straightened-out hairpin.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1917; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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