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straight-laced. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
straight-laced, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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English
Etymology
Widely agreed to have originated (centuries ago) in homophonic confusion (in speech) of strait-laced (“tight-laced”), but long since so widely accepted and used, because having such strongly apparent analogy with straight in its senses relating to orthodoxy and conformity (compare squareness), that it can no longer accurately be called erroneous; instead it is an established alternative form with its own reanalyzed surface analysis. Compare straitjacket with *straightjacket; the latter is still usually regarded as an error, but the relationship is analogous.
Adjective
straight-laced (comparative more straight-laced, superlative most straight-laced)
- Having narrow views on moral matters; prudish.
1687, John Aubrey, Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme, page 20:Me thinks St. Augustin was too straight-laced in not liking Organs in Churches.
Synonyms
Translations
having narrow views on moral matters
References