distrain

One entry found for distrain.

Main Entry: dis·train
Pronunciation: di-'strAn
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English distreynen, from Anglo-French destreindre, from Medieval Latin distringere, from Latin, to draw apart, detain, from dis- + stringere to bind tight -- more at STRAIN
transitive verb
1 : to force or compel to satisfy an obligation by means of a distress
2 : to seize by distress
intransitive verb : to levy a distress
- dis·train·able /-'strA-n&-b&l/ adjective
- dis·train·er /-'strA-n&r/ also dis·train·or /-'strA-n&r, -"strA-'nor/ noun