Middle English Dictionary Entry
distreinen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | distreinen v. Also distrainen, distrenen, distrinen, distreignen & destreinen, destreingnen & (error) distremen. P.ppl. i)distreined, distreint. |
| Etymology | OF destreign-, destraign-, pres. stem of destreindre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To take hold of (sth.); hold fast, retain; (b) to hold (sth.) back; detain (sb.); restrain, hold in check; (c) to arrest or confine (sb.); hem in.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2405 : No wight sholde take vp on hym so heuy a charge that he myghte nat beren it. For the prouerbe seith, 'He that to muche embraceth, distreyneth litel.'
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)337 : The gentyl faucoun, that with his feet distrayneth The kynges hand.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.161 : Ther may no man embrace As to destreyne a thyng which that nature Hath naturelly set in a creature.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.355 : Until his folk he fayned That other besy nedes hym destrayned.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)212/34 : Vices stryuen sumtyme wyth vertues to profyte, that the mynde be styrede and reysed to god by that stryuynge or wil be distreynd [L distringatur] fro pride.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4244 : A kyng with-outen cunnynge..can noȝt distreyne His subiectis.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)23/27 : Þe kynde of þe enuyous is to distreyne and destroie wiþ al his myȝt al good.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.269 : This suffred oure lord Iesu Crist for man, after that he hadde be..distreyned and bounde.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.6.117 : A man..which that vicyous lustes holden destreyned with cheynes that ne mowen nat ben unbownden.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)165 : So were thei distreyned be-twene the wode and the river.
2.
To urge or compel (sb. to do sth.), constrain [last quot. may belong to sense 4.].
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.104 : Holy chirche by iugement destreyneth hym for to doon open penaunce.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.596 : Distreyne hire herte as faste to retorne..Than woot I wel that she nyl naught sojorne.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)128/28 : Thre thinges distrained her for to eschewe diuerse plesauncez..loue, drede, and shame.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)62/21 : Who destreyns þe to swere ofte?
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)66/1 : Be not in doubte but the wrathe of God hanghith ouir you, which distryneth you above the fortune of tyme and is more grevouse vnto you thanne the owtragiouse ambicion of theym that make you warre.
3.
Law (a) To levy a distress (as for rents not paid, debts, or the like); -- often with for phrase; (b) to compel (sb.) to perform obligations by seizing his property; ~ bi bestes (catel, godes); (c) to seize (property) for any such purpose, sequester.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.94 : Ȝif eny ys þat nymeþ rente of eny tenement..and his rente..be by-hynde..and he ne fynde for to dystreyne..[he] nyme þe dores and þe fenestres.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.371a : Be cause yat ther nis no mention made in the saide Testament, who shuld distreigne for the saide rente in caas it were behinde [etc.].
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)87 : Ȝif the tenaunt..ne wil not attornyn to hym ne payen hym the same rente, thanne have the axand be devis power for to destreynen [F destreyndre].
- (1457) Indent.Prior in Palaeog.Soc.3 (Hrl Charter 44.B.47)plate 260 : If he be bihinde of his fferme..hit shall be leeffull vnto the forseid Prioure..to distreigne, and the distresse so to kepe and withholde vnto the tyme the seid fferme..be fully contentid.
- (c1471) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3251 : Yff they..wyll note observe the convenauntes..I other my assignes may entyr in all ther lands and to dystrayn for all the arerages.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.36 : Seint Thomas londes ek in his hond hi nome, As to distreigny [vr. distreini] him, that to his court he come.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)758 : Non Erchebischop of caunterburi nas neuere i-somoned so, Ne so destreyned of no king.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)70/1985 : For ȝyf hyt þoþer nolde do, Destrayned be he scholde By rytte To do hyt..Þe lawe heþ seche myȝte.
- (1413-9) Doc.in Bk.Lond.E.226/44 : For þat same amercimentes, he destreined hem bi here Bestes and catell, to vtre destruccion of hem.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)129 : No burgeys of the toun shal distreyne [F destreygne] an othyr burgeys..of his owne authoritee for trespas which he has maad aȝeyns hym.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)141 : Burgeysys of the toun..moun distreynen her tenauntz..for rente be hyndyn.
- (1442) RParl.5.43b : To take thaym by thaire bodies, or To distrayne thaym by thaire godes.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.6b : The Collectours..have power..to distreyn the seid persone so not paiyng, as well uppon his Londes, as by his goodes.
c
- (1472-3) RParl.6.49b : If any other persones goodes..be distreyned for defaute of makyng of the said pavement [etc.].
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)481/7,8 : Hit shold be lefull to them to distreyn the said tenement..and to hold stille the thyngis I-distreyned tille hit were Isatisfied in all thyngis.
4.
(a) To distress or torment (sb.); also, plague (sb.); (b) to oppress (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1816 : I knowe of loues peyne, And woot how sore it kan a man distreyne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1302 : He, whom alle wo distreigneth..was so bestad, That he schal nevermor be glad.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.820 : Desir of his presence hir so destreyneth, That al this wide world she set at noght.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1528 : No word for sorwe she answerde, So soore gan his partyng hire distreyne.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)210/27 : To reste for gowtes Artetykes þat me distreynen.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)134 : A man..destreyned with sekenesse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)71 : He was sore distreined [F destrois] with the love of Ygerne, that..he gan to wepe.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.752 : Men ben distreyned by taylages, custumes, and cariages.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.270 : Som eke han powere and auctorite, When þat hem lust, to pun[is]che and distreyne.
5.
Misc. uses: (a) to sever (a branch), cut off; separate (peoples); divide (a string) by pressing on it; (b) to force (sth. upon sb.); apply (sth.) by pressure; (c) to expel (morbid matter); (d) refl. to assemble for combat.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.17.22 : I shal putte of the cop of his braunchis; The tendre I shal distreyne [L distringam] and Y shal plaunte vpon an heiȝ hil.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)18/30 : That famous arme of þe see yn to þe which Twede flowythe, þe which yne to þis daye distremyth [read: distreinyth] & departithe Englysshe men from Scottis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.211 : If the corde..be distreynede [L distinguatur] in to iiij equalites, and that instrumente magada be putte under the oon extremalle diuision, the longer parte of the wire ytowchede yeldethe diatesseron.
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)68.19 : Ne þe fende ne destreingne [L urgeat] nouȝt on me his mouþe.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.415 : The parget of thy wough be strong & bryght; The trewel first ful ofte hit [parget] most distreyne.
c
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)85/20 : To make stalworthe þe stomak, & destreyne & purge þe..rotyn humours þat er in þe stomak.
d
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)193 : Ronne these squyers to armes and lepen to horse, and hem renged and distreyned [F sestraignent].