strait-handedness

noun

The quality of being strait-handed; greed; stinginess.

Meanings

nounstrait-handedness (uncountable)

alternative straithandedness

  1. archaicuncountableThe quality of being strait-handed; greed; stinginess.

    It is also evident that men are under the prevailing power of a worldly spirit, by their strait-handedness as to publick concernments.

    1893, Williston Walker, The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism, page 431
    1 more example

    But in Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s Time, too much Senſuality and Sabbath-breaking, Oppreſſion, Strait-handedneſs reſpecting the publick VVorſhip of God (the very ſame Sins that are found vvith us) vvere common prevailing Iniquities.

    1702, Cotton Mather, “[Book V (Acts and Monuments. […]).] The Necessity of Reformation, with the Expedients Subservient thereunto, Asserted, in Answer to Two Questions.”, in Magnalia Christi Americana: Or, the Ecclesiastical History of New-England, from Its First Planting in the Year 1620. unto the Year of Our Lord, 1698. […], London: […] Thomas Parkhurst, […], →OCLC, 4th part (The Reforming Synod of New-England, […]), question II, page 93, column 1

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

strait-handedness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strait-handedness

MLA

“strait-handedness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strait-handedness. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “strait-handedness,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strait-handedness.

Source: strait-handedness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.