distrain
dis·train
distrain · distrains · distrained · distraining
pfänden
To seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debtTo seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.
UK/dɪˈstɹeɪn/US/di-ˈstrān/
Meaning
4 senses(intransitive)To seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.
pfänden
legally take something in place of a debt payment
(obsolete)To squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.
(obsolete, transitive)To force (someone) to do something by seizing their property.
to distrain a person by his goods and chattels
(obsolete)To pull off, tear apart.
Translations
2 languagesDeutsch
By meaning 1
To seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt:
Origin
From Middle English distreynen, from Old French destraindre, from Latin distringō (“to pulFrom Middle English distreynen, from Old French destraindre, from Latin distringō (“to pull asunder”), from dis- (“apart”) + stringō (“to draw tight, strain”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
distrains, distraining, distrained, distrained| Base form | distrain · to distrain |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | distrains |
| Present participle | distraining |
| Past simple | distrained |
| Past participle | distrained |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
1 synonymsto seize somebody's property in place of, or to force payment of a debt:distress
Word family
6 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle