dist
rain
Third Person
distrains
Present Participle
distraining
Past Tense
distrained
Past Participle
distrained
1
to legally take someone’s property instead of the money they are owed
- He faced financial ruin when the bank decided to distrain his car for failing to pay the loan.
- The court authorized the sheriff to distrain the debtor’s assets to satisfy the judgment.
- The landlord threatened to distrain the tenant's belongings to recover unpaid rent.
- She sought legal advice when she learned that the lender intended to distrain her property.
- Failing to reach an agreement, the creditor decided to distrain the debtor’s equipment to recover the outstanding amount.
2
levy a distress on
3
legally take something in place of a debt payment