eye-straining
|eye-strain-ing|
/ˈaɪˌstreɪnɪŋ/
causing eye fatigue
Etymology
'eye-straining' originates from Modern English, composed of the noun 'eye' and the present participle 'straining' of the verb 'strain', where 'eye' meant 'the organ of sight' and 'strain' meant 'to exert or put pressure (on)'.
'eye' comes from Old English 'eage', and 'strain' comes via Old French 'estraindre' from Latin 'stringere'; the compound adjective 'eye-straining' formed in Modern English by combining these elements.
Initially the components referred separately to 'the organ of sight' and 'to exert or stretch'; over time the compound evolved to mean 'causing fatigue or discomfort to the eyes'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
causing discomfort or fatigue to the eyes (e.g., because of small print, poor contrast, harsh light, or prolonged focus).
The tiny font and low contrast made the document eye-straining to read for long periods.
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Adjective 2
causing visual discomfort because of excessive brightness, glare, or flicker (often used of screens, lights, or signage).
The store's fluorescent lighting was so eye-straining that customers complained after a few minutes.
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Last updated: 2026/01/03 09:37