From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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:
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.
