## Meanings
1. A narrow channel of sea connecting two larger areas of water.
2. A difficult situation, especially money trouble (usually plural: straits).

## Examples
- Ships pass through the strait between the two islands every day.
- After losing his job, the family was in dire straits.

## Derived Forms
- cross-strait
- strait-handed
- strait-laced
- straitjacket
- straitly
- straitness
- straitwaistcoat

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: streit
- Root: estreit
- Root: strictus

## Etymology
From Middle English streit, from Old French estreit (modern form étroit), from Latin strictus, perfect passive participle of stringō (“compress, tighten”). Doublet of stretto and strict.

## AI Etymology
Strait is from Middle English streit, from Old French estreit (modern form étroit), from Latin strictus, perfect passive participle of stringō (“compress, tighten”). Doublet of stretto and strict. In present-day use, it can mean a narrow channel of sea connecting two larger areas of water, or a difficult situation, especially money trouble (usually plural: straits).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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