English citations of strain

Noun: "tune, melody" edit

  • 1807, William Wordsworth, Song at the feast of Brougham Castle, lines 3-4:
    The words of ancient time I thus translate, / A festal strain that hath been silent long:

Verb: "to beget" edit

  • The sun straineth light.
    (approx.1225, Homily on the Creed in Cambridge)
  • A wife he nam; a son on her he strained.
    (circa 1275, Layamon, The Brut)
  • He shall strain on her a swith selely son.
    (circa 1275, Layamon, The Brut)
  • Eadie is his spouse, whose maid-hood is unwemmed (unviolated), when he, on her, straineth.
    (circa1225, Hali Meidenhad - Holy Maiden-Hood)
  • Our Drighten sent his high angel Gabriel to ..Zachariah.. to say that he should strain a holy child and clepe it John.
    (approx.1225, Homilies in Cambridge)
  • Our healand was strained of the heavenly father ere then that heaven or earth shapen (formed) were.
    (approx.1225, Homilies in Cambridge)
  • Naked they gan; nis there none of other agramed; ne for their nakedhood ashamed; without lust of sin they strain.
  • Thy wife is thine alone, only thou mayest strain on her; no other man may strain on thy wife ne mayest thou strain on a wife of another.