strict

adj

Etymology: Borrowed from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (“to draw tight, bind, contract”). Doublet of strait and stretto. See stringent, strain. Related to strong.

1. Strained; drawn close; tight.

   “strict embrace”

   “strict ligature”

2. Tense; not relaxed.

   “strict fiber”

3. Exact; accurate; precise; rigorously particular.

   “to keep strict watch”

   “to pay strict attention”

4. Governed or governing by exact rules; observing exact rules; severe; rigorous.

   “they are very strict in observing the Sabbath”

   “No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.”

5. Rigidly interpreted; exactly limited; confined; restricted.

   “to understand words in a strict sense”

6. Upright, or straight and narrow; — said of the shape of the plants or their flower clusters.
7. Severe in discipline.

   “Our teacher was always very strict. If we didn't behave, we would get punished.”

   “It was a very strict lesson.”

8. Irreflexive; if the described object is defined to be reflexive, that condition is overridden and replaced with irreflexive.