distrain

dis·train
D2I1S1T1R1A1I1N1
UK/dɪˈstɹeɪn/US/di-ˈstrān/

verb

To squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.

“to distrain a person by his goods and chattels”

Similar
distress
OriginMiddle English distreynen ← Old French destraindre ← Latin distringō →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

verbdistrain (third-person singular simple present distrains, present participle distraining, simple past and past participle distrained)

present singular third person distrains · participle present distraining · participle past distrained · past distrained

  1. obsoleteTo squeeze, press, embrace; to constrain, oppress.

    Thus spake the Prince, and gently 'gan distrain / Now him, now her, between his friendly arms.

    1600, Edward Fairfax, The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, XII, xii
    1 more example

    But when he heard her answeres loth, he knew / Some secret sorrow did her heart distraine […]

    1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC
  2. obsoletetransitivelawTo force (someone) to do something by seizing their property.

    to distrain a person by his goods and chattels

  3. intransitivelawTo seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.

    Synonyms: distress

  4. obsoleteTo pull off, tear apart.

    For that same net so cunningly was wound, / That neither guile, nor force might it distraine.

    1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo seize somebody's property in place of, or to force, payment of a debt.

Similar
distress
Also see
distress

Origin

  1. Latindistringō“to pull asunder”
  2. Old Frenchdestraindre
  3. Middle Englishdistreynen
  4. Englishdistrain

From Middle English distreynen, from Old French destraindre, from Latin distringō (“to pull asunder”), from dis- (“apart”) + stringō (“to draw tight, strain”).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian налагам запор
  • налагам запор (nalagam zapor)To seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt
German pfänden
  • pfändenTo seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt
Hungarian lefoglal, zálogol
  • lefoglalTo seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt
  • zálogolTo seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt
  • zár alá veszTo seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt
  • végrehajtTo seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt
Polish anektować, zaanektować
  • anektowaćTo force (someone) to do something by seizing their property
  • zaanektowaćTo force (someone) to do something by seizing their property
Swedish utmäta
  • utmätaTo seize somebody's property in place of payment of a debt

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with distrain

mainagaindomainSpainpaincampaignchainmaintaingaintrainobtainremaincontainrainmaineexplainlaneplainjaneplaneWayneUkrainegrainstrain
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

distrain. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/distrain

MLA

“distrain.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/distrain. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “distrain,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/distrain.

Source: distrain on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.