distrain
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /dɪˈstreɪn/
KK: /dɪˈstreɪn/
intransitive verb
Definition
To take possession of someone's property to satisfy a debt or obligation, often without going to court.
Example
The landlord had the right to distrain the tenant's belongings for unpaid rent.
Tense Forms
Past: distrained
Past Participle: distrained
Conversation
Have you ever seen someone distrain for unpaid rent?
No, I haven't! That sounds intense.
Yeah, it's not a pretty situation when they do that.
I can imagine — it must be really stressful for everyone involved.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
seize
forfeit
confiscate
Antonyms
release
restore
return
transitive verb
Definition
To take someone's property in order to make them pay a debt or fulfill an obligation.
Example
The landlord had to distrain the tenant's belongings to recover unpaid rent.
Tense Forms
Past: distrained
Past Participle: distrained
Conversation
Did you hear what happened to Tom?
No, what happened?
He got into some trouble because they decided to distrain his car for unpaid tickets.
Root Explanation
Distrain → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "traine" (from Old French *traïner*, meaning to pull or drag). The word describes the act of pulling away or seizing property to compel payment or performance of an obligation.
Memory Tip
Think of something being 'pulled away' ('traine') from someone, which helps you remember that 'distrain' means to seize property.
Visually Confused Words
redistrain
disentrain
mistrain
disbrain
strain
demitrain
vitrain
undistrained