Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - strict

 adjective  Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Latin ~us, from past participle of stringere to bind tight — more at strain  Date: 15th century  1. archaic  a. tight, close; also intimate  b. narrow  2.  a. stringent in requirement or control under ~ orders  b. severe in discipline a ~ teacher  3.  a. inflexibly maintained or adhered to ~ secrecy  b. rigorously conforming to principle or a norm or condition  4. exact, precise in the ~ sense of the word  5. of narrow erect habit of growth a ~ inflorescence  Synonyms: see rigid  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun