Etymologically
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strictus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 12:58. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈstrɪk.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈstrik.tus][1]

Forms

strictus (feminine stricta, neuter strictum, adverb strictim); first/second-declension participle[1]

Etymology

It is the perfect participle of stringō “to draw tight, bind”, from Proto-Italic *strigtos, from Proto-Indo-European *strigtós, from Proto-Indo-European *streyg-.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source for the adjective is Ovid, whom he dates 43 BC–18 AD, and Gaffiot cites Ovid's strictissima iānua “a very narrow door”.[3][4]

Semantic evolution

As an adjective it meant drawn tight, narrow, as in Ovid, compact, well knit, dense, as in Celsus.[4][2] Of writers it meant concise, terse, as in Seneca, and of a judge or judgement rigorous, strict, so that strictō iūre meant by the strict letter of the law, as in Gaius.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant close, tight, strict, brief, concise, severe.[5] British Medieval Latin used it as a noun for a narrow passage of water, a strait.[6] It survives in Italian stretto, French étroit, Spanish estrecho and Portuguese estreito.[1] English strict came in the early 15th century, first in the physical sense “narrow, drawn in tight”.[7]

Timeline

  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a narrow door.[4][3]
  • 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of what is compact.[2][3]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of concise writing and strict judgement.[2][3]
  • early 15th century – English strict is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Participle

  1. Drawn tight, narrow.[4]
  2. Compact, well knit; dense.[2]
  3. Of writing, concise, terse.[2]
  4. Rigorous, strict, strictō iūre, by the strict letter of the law.[2]
  5. (Medieval Latin) A strait.[6]
  • strictē
  • strictiō
  • strictīvus
  • strictor
  • strictūra
  • stringō
  • English strict
  • English strait

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com