meaning of distrain
1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict.
2. To rend; to tear.
3. 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.
4. To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.
5. To levy a distress.
6. legally take something in place of a debt payment
Related Words
distrain | distrainable | distrained | distrainer | distraining | distrainor | distraint |
