Stringency (Word of the Day, 2009/8/5)

By Nina Chou

Stringency [noun] / stringencies [pl.]

►the quality or state of being stringent; strictness; severity

Stringent [adj.]

Usage Example:

(1) in these days of financial stringency

(2) short-term economic stringencies

(3) Preposition: of

˙requirement:

The stringency of the requirements reflects the course’s popularity with applicants rather than its ‘value’ to employers.

˙control:

Mr. Maclean should not have permitted the MLC advertisements to claim that with the stringency of controls even the remotest perceived risk was avoided.

(4) Converse of object

˙increase:

Other millions must have taken refuge behind the British and American lines, thus increasing the food stringency in our sector.

˙cause:

The colony successfully surmounted the financial stringency caused by the withdrawal of the imperial troops in 1905.

(5) Adjective modifier

˙economic:

We live in a wasteful society at a time of economic stringency.