distrain

American  

[dih-streyn] / dɪˈstreɪn /

verb (used with object)

1. to constrain by seizing and holding goods, etc., in pledge for rent, damages, etc., or in order to obtain satisfaction of a claim.

2. to levy a distress upon.

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verb (used without object)

1. to levy a distress.

distrain British  

/ dɪˈstreɪn /

verb

1. law to seize (personal property) by way of distress

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Other Word Forms

• distrainable adjective
• distrainee noun
• distrainer noun
• distrainment noun
• distrainor noun
• undistrained adjective

Etymology

Origin of distrain

1250–1300; Middle English distreinen < Anglo-French, Old French destreindre < Latin distringere to stretch out, equivalent to di- di- ² + stringere to draw tight; strain ¹

Example Sentences

Magna Carta laid down the law about “fish weirs” on English rivers, “assizes of darrein presentment,” people being “distrained to make bridges,” and other “liberties . . . to hold in our realm of England in perpetuity.”

From Washington Post

When his goods were seized, he retaliated by taking out the two front windows and placing therein two effigies—one of a bishop, and the other of a distraining officer.

From Project Gutenberg

Bray was ancient demesne and the king's tenants complained that they were distrained to do other services than they were used to do.

From Project Gutenberg

When this happened, their furniture was distrained without mercy, for the tax was farmed, and a farmer of taxes, is, of all creditors, proverbially, the most rapacious.”

From Project Gutenberg

I gave him a minute account of the ancient process of distraining and impounding and of the action of replevin,—considerably to my own amusement and his astonishment.”

From Project Gutenberg