straight
UK: streɪt | US: streɪt
adj. extending uniformly in one direction without curves or bends
adj. honest, direct, or uncompromising
adv. in a straight line or manner
n. a straight part of a racecourse or path
straight = straigh<stretch> + t<variant suffix>
- straigh (variant of "stretch"): Derived from Old English streccan, meaning "to stretch" or "extend."
- t: A phonetic variant or fossilized suffix in Modern English, likely influenced by Middle English spelling conventions.
Etymology Origin:
The word "straight" evolved from Old English streht (past participle of streccan), meaning "stretched" or "extended." Over time, the spelling shifted to "straight" in Middle English, emphasizing the idea of linearity or directness. The semantic progression reflects both physical (unbent) and metaphorical (honest) extensions of the core concept of "stretching."
Draw a straight line from point A to point B.
He gave a straight answer without hesitation.
The road runs straight through the valley.
She sat up straight in her chair.
The horse raced down the final straight.