distrain
verb/dɪˈstɹeɪn/UK/di-ˈstrān/US
Etymology
From Middle English distreynen, from Old French destraindre, from Latin distringō (“to pull asunder”), from dis- (“apart”) + stringō (“to draw tight, strain”).
- derived from distringō
- derived from destraindre
- inherited from distreynen
Definitions
To squeeze, press, embrace
To squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.
- But when he heard her answeres loth, he knew / Some secret sorrow did her heart distraine […]
- Thus spake the Prince, and gently 'gan distrain / Now him, now her, between his friendly arms.
To force (someone) to do something by seizing their property.
- to distrain a person by his goods and chattels
To seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.
›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer
To pull off, tear apart.
- For that same net so cunningly was wound, / That neither guile, nor force might it distraine.
The neighborhood
Derived
distrainable, distrainee, distrainer, distrainment, distrainor, distraint, undistrained
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for distrain. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA