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De - Pt| English Dictionary: distraining | by the DICT Development Group |
| 1 result for distraining | |
| From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
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Distrain \Dis*train"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Distrained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Distraining}.] [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.] [bd]Distrained with chains.[b8] --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. | |
