English Explanatory Dictionary

distrain

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.
  2. To force (someone) to do something by seizing their property.
  3. To seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.
  4. To pull off, tear apart.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈstɹeɪn/ /di-ˈstrān/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Yangolin-distrain.wav

Word forms

distrain distrains distraining distrained

Etymology

From Middle English distreynen, from Old French destraindre, from Latin distringō (“to pull asunder”), from dis- (“apart”) + stringō (“to draw tight, strain”).

Synonyms

distress

Derived words

distrainable distrainee distrainer distrainment distrainor distraint undistrained
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on D Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary