Citations:strain

Noun: "tune, melody"

 * 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"

 * "en"

- The sun straineth light. (approx.1225, Homily on the Creed in Cambridge)
 * "en"

- A wife he nam; a son on her he strained. (circa 1275, Layamon, The Brut)
 * "en"

- He shall strain on her a swith selely son. (circa 1275, Layamon, The Brut)
 * "en"

- Eadie is his spouse, whose maid-hood is unwemmed (unviolated), when he, on her, straineth. (circa1225, Hali Meidenhad - Holy Maiden-Hood)
 * "en"

- 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)
 * "en"

- Our healand was strained of the heavenly father ere then that heaven or earth shapen (formed) were. (approx.1225, Homilies in Cambridge)
 * "en"

- Naked they gan; nis there none of other agramed; ne for their nakedhood ashamed; without lust of sin they strain.


 * "en"

- 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.