astriction

English

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin astrictio. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Noun

astriction (countable and uncountable, plural astrictions)

1. The act of binding; restriction; obligation.
   • 1644, John Milton, The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, Book I, Ch. XIII:

     So of marriage he is the author and the witness; yet hence will not follow any divine astriction more than what is subordinate to the glory of God, and the main good of either party.

2. (medicine) A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an astringent substance.
3. (obsolete) constipation
   • 1731, John Arbuthnot, An Essay Concerning the Nature of Aliments, and the Choice of Them, According to the Different Constitutions of Human Bodies. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC:

     Astriction of the Belly is commonly a sign of strong chylopocerick Organ

4. (obsolete) astringency
   • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “I. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:

     Myrobalanes have it ; and it may be the barks of peaches : for this virtue requireth an astriction ; but such an astriction as is not grateful to the body

5. (law, Scotland, historical) An obligation to have the grain growing on certain lands ground at a certain mill, the owner paying a toll. (The lands were said to be astricted to the mill.)
   • 1833, George Joseph Bell, Principles of the Law of Scotland:

     Payment of dry multures will even imply a title; being exclusive of any other supposition than astriction

References

“astriction”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• citrations, trications