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distrain
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English Dictionary: distrain by the DICT Development Group
3 results for distrain
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
distrain
v
  1. levy a distress on
  2. confiscate by distress
  3. legally take something in place of a debt payment
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Distrain \Dis*train"\, v. i.
      To levy a distress.
  
               Upon whom I can distrain for debt.         --Camden.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   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.
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