arrest

[ uh-rest ]

verb (used with object)

1. to seize (a person) by legal authority or warrant; take into custody:

   The police arrested the burglar.

   Synonyms: apprehend

2. to catch and hold; attract and fix; engage:

   The loud noise arrested our attention.

   Synonyms: occupy, rivet, secure

3. to check the course of; stop; slow down:

   to arrest progress.

   Synonyms: stay

4. Medicine/Medical. to control or stop the active progress of (a disease):

   The new drug did not arrest the cancer.

noun

1. the taking of a person into legal custody, as by officers of the law.

   Synonyms: imprisonment, apprehension, detention

2. any seizure or taking by force.
3. an act of stopping or the state of being stopped:

   the arrest of tooth decay.

   Synonyms: check, stay, halt, stoppage

4. Machinery. any device for stopping machinery; stop.

arrest

/ əˈrɛst /

verb

1. to deprive (a person) of liberty by taking him into custody, esp under lawful authority
2. to seize (a ship) under lawful authority
3. to slow or stop the development or progress of (a disease, growth, etc)
4. to catch and hold (one's attention, sight, etc)
5. arrest judgment
   arrest judgment law to stay proceedings after a verdict, on the grounds of error or possible error
6. can't get arrested informal.
   can't get arrested (of a performer) is unrecognized and unsuccessful

   he can't get arrested here but is a megastar in the States

noun

1. the act of taking a person into custody, esp under lawful authority
2. the act of seizing and holding a ship under lawful authority
3. the state of being held, esp under lawful authority

   under arrest

4. Also calledarrestationˌærɛsˈteɪʃən the slowing or stopping of the development or progress of something
5. the stopping or sudden cessation of motion of something

   a cardiac arrest

Other Words From

• ar·resta·ble adjective
• ar·restment noun
• postar·rest adjective
• prear·rest verb (used with object)
• prear·restment noun
• rear·rest verb (used with object) noun
• unar·resta·ble adjective
• unar·rested adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrest¹

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English aresten < Anglo-French, Middle French arester, < Vulgar Latin *arrestāre to stop ( ar-, rest ² ); (noun) Middle English arest ( e ) < Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrest¹

C14: from Old French arester, from Vulgar Latin arrestāre (unattested), from Latin ad at, to + restāre to stand firm, stop

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under arrest, in custody of the police or other legal authorities:

   They placed the suspect under arrest at the scene of the crime.

More idioms and phrases containing arrest

see under arrest .

Synonym Study

See stop.

Example Sentences

Later reports say that authorities claimed to be merely escorting him back to his house arrest.

From The Daily Beast

The Moscow protest was not sanctioned, which meant every participant risked arrest.

From The Daily Beast

He was told he could go back home to his house arrest to celebrate the New Year with his wife and their two children.

From The Daily Beast

When two NYPD lieutenants intervened, police say Linsker put the trash can down but resisted arrest.

From The Daily Beast

Sullivan has by then moved in to help and he seeks to complete the arrest of the first man.

From The Daily Beast

The crowd dispersed, disappointed; cheated out of their anticipated scene of an arrest for horse-stealing.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew that Longcluse had still two executions against him, on which, at any moment, he might arrest him.

From Project Gutenberg

He told Horner you'd bin shot resistin' arrest, an' wanted t' see her afore yuh cashed in.

From Project Gutenberg

That accomplished, I shall arrest the Dowager and her son and every jackanapes within that castle.

From Project Gutenberg

Fresh Commissioners came from the Assembly, and it was only their fortunate recall to Paris that saved the general from arrest.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apprehend
• capture
• catch
• detain
• imprison
• incarcerate
• jail
• round up
• seize