arrest

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A check, stop, an act or instance of arresting something.
2. (countable, uncountable) The condition of being stopped, standstill.
3. (countable, uncountable) The process of arresting a criminal, suspect etc.
4. (countable, uncountable) A confinement, detention, as after an arrest.
5. (countable, uncountable) A device to physically arrest motion.
6. (countable, uncountable) The judicial detention of a ship to secure a financial claim against its operators.
7. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Any seizure by power, physical or otherwise.
8. (countable, uncountable) A scurfiness of the back part of the hind leg of a horse

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To stop the motion of (a person, animal, or body part).
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To stay, remain.
3. (transitive) To stop or slow (a process, course etc.).
4. (transitive) To seize (someone) with the authority of the law; to take into legal custody.
5. (transitive) To catch the attention of.
6. (intransitive) To undergo cardiac arrest.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈɹɛst/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: arest

Cognate with French: arrêter

In summary

From Middle English arest (noun) and aresten (verb), from Old French areste (noun) and arester (“to stay, stop”, verb), from Vulgar Latin *arrestō, from Latin ad- (“to”) + restō (“to stop, remain behind, stay back”), from re- (“back”) + stō (“to stand”), from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand”), equivalent to ad- + rest. Compare French arrêter (“to stop”).

Synonyms

seize

catch

capture

detain

apprehend

stop

🛑

detention

hold

apprehension

check

halt

nab

seizure

grab

custody

imprison

grasp

collar

take

restrain

pinch

confinement

delay

hinder

tie up

imprisonment

take prisoner

stoppage

lock up

nail

lag

contain

turn back

hold up

withhold

taking into custody

stay

arrestment

block

abduction

get

detainment

hold back

captivate

take into custody

keep

interruption

nick

avert

bondage