Main Entry: dis·train

Pronunciation: \di-ˈstrān\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English distreynen, from Anglo-French destreindre, from Medieval Latin distringere, from Latin, to draw apart, detain, from dis- + stringere to bind tight — more at strain

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to force or compel to satisfy an obligation by means of a distress
2 : to seize by distressintransitive verb : to levy a distress

— dis·train·able \-ˈstrā-nə-bəl\ adjective

— dis·train·er \-ˈstrā-nər\ also dis·train·or \-ˈstrā-nər, -ˌstrā-ˈnȯr\ noun