See Also: straighten(dictionary)
straighten(dictionary)

straighten (iou)



straighten verb1. Also straiten. M16.
[from STRAIGHT adjective1 + -EN5.]
verb trans. Make straight. Also foll. by out. M16.
J. Dickey The..arrow was badly bent, and I straightened it. P. Marshall He examined..her chemically straightened hair.
verb trans. fig. Unravel, disentangle, clarify; colloq. make a situation clear to (a person). Now only foll. by out. L16.
H. C. Beeching Moral questions that I should like to hear straightened out. W. Styron You're confusing me. Straighten me out.
verb trans. Put in order, tidy up. Also (slang), repay money to (a person). M19.
verb intrans.
a. Become straight. Also foll. by out. L19.
R. Kipling Dick's shoulders straightened again.
b. Stand up. L19.
verb intrans.
a. Settle up an account or debt with a person. colloq. E20.
b. Foll. by up: adopt an honest course of life; reform. slang (orig. US). E20.
verb trans. Bribe, corrupt. Also foll. by out. slang (orig. US). E20.
straightener noun E17.