King James Bible Dictionary

Name of a street in Damascus
Acts 9:11

Figurative of righteousness, straight paths
Isaiah 40:3-4; Matthew 3:3; Hebrews 12:13

STRAIGHT, adjective [Latin , formed from the root of reach, stretch, right. It is customary to write straight for direct or right, and strait, for narrow, but this is a practice wholly arbitrary, both being the same word. Strait we use in the sense in which it is used in the south of Europe. Both sense proceed from stretching, straining.]

1. Right, in a mathematical sense; direct; passing from one point to another by the nearest course; not deviating or crooked; as a straight line; a straight course; a straight piece of timber.

2. Narrow; close; tight; as a straight garment. [See strait, as it is generally written.]

3. Upright; according with justice and rectitude; not deviating from truth or fairness.

STRAIGHT, adverb Immediately; directly; in the shortest time.

I know thy generous temper well; fling but the appearance of dishonor on it, it straight takes fire, and mounts into a blaze.

STRAIGHTEN, verb transitive

1. To make straight; to reduce from a crooked to a straight form.

2. To make narrow, tense or close; to tighten.

3. To reduce to difficulties or distress.

STRAIGHTENED, participle passive Made straight; made narrow.

STRAIGHTENER, noun He or that which straightens.

STRAIGHTENING, participle present tense Making straight or narrow.

STRAIGHTLY, adverb

1. In a right line; not crookedly.

2. Tightly; closely.

STRAIGHTNESS, noun

1. The quality or state of being straight; rectitude.

2. Narrowness; tension; tightness.

STRAIGHTWAY, adverb [straight and way.] Immediately; without loss of time; without delay.

He took the damsel by the hand, and said to her, Talitha cumi--and straightway the damsel arose. Mark 5:41-42. [Straightways is obsolete.]