DISTRAIN

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

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Etymology

Verb

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.

Synonyms

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

Source: Wiktionary

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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

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