distrain

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English distreynen, from Old French destraindre, from Latin distringō (to pull asunder), from dis- (apart) + stringō (to draw tight, strain).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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distrain (third-person singular simple present distrains, present participle distraining, simple past and past participle distrained)

  1. (obsolete) To squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.
  2. (law, transitive, obsolete) To force (someone) to do something by seizing their property.
    to distrain a person by his goods and chattels
  3. (law, intransitive) To seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.
  4. (obsolete) To pull off, tear apart.

Synonyms

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  • (to seize somebody's property in place of, or to force payment of a debt) distress

Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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