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distraining

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distraining


  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Distrain  \Dis*train"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Distrained};  p.  pr 
  &  vb  n.  {Distraining}.]  [OE.  destreinen  to  force,  OF 
  destreindre  to  press,  oppress,  force,  fr  L.  distringere 
  districtum  to  draw  asunder,  hinder,  molest,  LL.,  to  punish 
  severely;  di-  =  stringere  to  draw  tight,  press  together.  See 
  {Strain},  and  cf  {Distress},  {District},  {Distraint}.] 
  1.  To  press  heavily  upon  to  bear  down  upon  with  violence; 
  hence  to  constrain  or  compel;  to  bind;  to  distress, 
  torment,  or  afflict.  [Obs.]  ``Distrained  with  chains.'' 
  --Chaucer. 
 
  2.  To  rend;  to  tear.  [Obs.] 
 
  Neither  guile  nor  force  might  it  [a  net]  distrain. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  3.  (Law) 
  a  To  seize,  as  a  pledge  or  indemnification;  to  take 
  possession  of  as  security  for  nonpayment  of  rent,  the 
  reparation  of  an  injury  done  etc.;  to  take  by 
  distress;  as  to  distrain  goods  for  rent,  or  of  an 
  amercement. 
  b  To  subject  to  distress;  to  coerce;  as  to  distrain  a 
  person  by  his  goods  and  chattels. 




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