/ ˈstrɪktʃə(r); NAmE / noun ( formal )
1.
[ usually pl. ] stricture (on sb/sth) a severe criticism, especially of sb's behaviour
2.
stricture (against / on sth) a rule or situation that restricts your behaviour
SYN restriction :
strictures against civil servants expressing political opinions
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the medical sense; abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct in the body): from Latin strictura , from stringere draw tight. Another sense of the Latin verb, touch lightly , gave rise to sense 1 via an earlier meaning incidental remark .