arrest

plural arrests

1. countableuncountableA check; a stop; an act or instance of arresting something.
2. countableuncountableThe condition of being stopped, standstill.

   cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest

3. countableuncountablelawThe process of arresting a criminal, suspect etc.

   State police made a total of 15 drug-related arrests across the city.

4. countableuncountableA confinement, detention, as after an arrest.
5. countableuncountableA device to physically arrest motion.
6. countableuncountablenauticalThe judicial detention of a ship to secure a financial claim against its operators.
7. countableobsoleteuncountableAny seizure by power, physical or otherwise.

   The sad stories of fire from heaven, the burning of his sheep, etc., […] were sad arrests to his troubled spirit.

   1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC

8. countableuncountablefarrieryA scurfiness of the back part of the hind leg of a horse

present singular third person arrests · participle present arresting · participle past arrested · past arrested

1. obsoletetransitiveTo stop the motion of (a person, animal, or body part).First known use 14th–19th c.

   An vncouth paine torments my grieued ſoule, And death arreſts the organe of my voyce.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vii

   2 more examples

   Nor could her virtues, nor repeated vows Of thousand lovers, the relentless hand Of Death arrest;

   1708, [John Philips], “Book I”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 11

   Mr. Van Rensberg broke the spell by arresting Martha as she trailed past him on Billy's arm, by pointing his pipestem at her and saying, ‘Hey, Matty, come here a minute.’

   1952, Doris Lessing, Martha Quest, Panther, published 1974, page 86

   Synonyms: freeze

2. intransitiveobsoleteTo stay, remain.First known use 14th–16th c.

   A white Starre[…]whiche to every mans sighte did lighte and arrest apon the Standard of Albry.

   1538, John Leland, Itineraries

3. transitiveTo stop or slow (a process, course etc.).First known use 14th c.

   To try to arrest the spiral of violence, I contacted Chief Buthelezi to arrange a meeting.

   1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, published 2010, page 707

   1 more example

   Knowledge replaced universal resemblance with finite differences. History was arrested and turned into tables …Western reason had entered the age of judgement.

   1997: Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, page 69 (Totem Books, Icon Books; →ISBN)

   Synonyms: cease

4. transitiveTo seize (someone) with the authority of the law; to take into legal custody.First known use 14th c.

   The police have arrested a suspect in the murder inquiry.

   4 more examples

   The suspect merchant ship has been arrested by customs officers.

   I arrest thee of high treason.

   1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

   The policeman who arrests the "Red" does not understand the theories the "Red" is preaching; if he did, his own position as bodyguard of the monied class might seem less pleasant to him.

   1941, George Orwell, The Lion and the Unicorn, Pt. I

   Detective Curtis, if you want to arrest someone, you need evidence.

   1995 October 18, Morgan Gendal, Barry M. Schkolmick, Michael S. Chernuchin, “Savages” (12:18 from the start), in Law & Order, season 6, episode 3, spoken by Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson)

   Synonyms: apprehend

5. transitiveTo catch the attention of.First known use 19th c.

   There is something about this picture—something bold and vigorous, which arrests the attention. I feel sure it would be highly popular.

   1919: P. G. Wodehouse, My Man Jeeves

   Synonyms: attract

6. intransitivemedicineTo undergo cardiac arrest.

   Realizing the mistake immediately from the outline of the RCA on the fluoroscope screen, he rapidly removed the catheter – just as his patient arrested.

   2004, Euan A. Ashley, Josef Niebauer, Cardiology Explained, page 66