distrain
(verb) legally take something in place of a debt payment
distrain
(verb) confiscate by distress
distrain
(verb) levy a distress on
Source: WordNet® 3.1
distrain (third-person singular simple present distrains, present participle distraining, simple past and past participle distrained)
(obsolete) To squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.
(legal, transitive, obsolete) To force (someone) to do something by seizing their property.
(legal, intransitive) To seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.
(obsolete) To pull off, tear apart.
• (to seize somebody's property in place of, or to force payment of a debt) distress
Source: Wiktionary
Dis*train", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrained; p. pr. & vb. n. Distraining.] Etym: [OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere, districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain, and cf. Distress, District, Distraint.]
1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [Obs.] "Distrained with chains." Chaucer.
2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.] Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain. Spenser.
3. (Law) (a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an amercement. (b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.
Dis*train", v. i.
Definition: To levy a distress. Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
31 May 2025
(adjective) expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance; “her amatory affairs”; “amorous glances”; “a romantic adventure”; “a romantic moonlight ride”
Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.
