Straiten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Straitened; p. pr. & vb. n. Straitening.]
1. To make strait; to make narrow; hence, to contract; to confine. Waters, when straitened, as at the falls of bridges, give a roaring noise. Bacon. In narrow circuit, straitened by a foe. Milton.
2. To make tense, or tight; to tighten. They straiten at each end the cord. Pope.
3. To restrict; to distress or embarrass in respect of means or conditions of life; -- used chiefly in the past participle; -- as, a man straitened in his circumstances.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists straiten only as an antonym, under satisfy.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given