Ar*rest" , n. [OE. arest, arrest, OF. arest, F. arrêt, fr.
arester. See Arrest, v. t., Arr&?;t.]
1. The act
of stopping, or restraining from further motion, etc.; stoppage; hindrance; restraint; as, an arrest of development.
As the arrest of the air showeth.
Bacon.
2.
(Law) The taking or apprehending of a person by authority of law; legal
restraint; custody. Also, a decree, mandate, or warrant.
William . . . ordered him to be put under arrest.
Macaulay.
[Our
brother Norway] sends out
arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys.
Shak.
&fist; An arrest may be
made by seizing or touching the body; but it is sufficient in the party
be within the power of
the officer and submit to
the arrest. In Admiralty law, and in old English practice, the term is applied to the seizure of property.
3. Any seizure by power, physical or moral.
The sad stories of fire from
heaven, the burning of his sheep, etc., . . . were sad arrests to his troubled spirit.
Jer. Taylor.
4. (Far.) A scurfiness of the back part of the hind leg of a horse; -- also named rat-tails.
White.
Arrest of judgment (Law),
the staying or stopping of a
judgment, after verdict, for legal cause. The motion for this purpose is called a motion in
arrest of judgment.
Ar*rest" , v. i. To tarry; to rest. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Ar*rest" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arrested;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Arresting.]
[OE. aresten, OF. arester, F. arrêter, fr. LL. arrestare; L.
ad + restare to remain, stop; re + stare to stand. See
Rest remainder.]
1. To stop;
to check or
hinder the motion or action of; as,
to arrest the current of a river; to arrest the senses.
Nor could her
virtues the relentless hand
Of Death arrest.
Philips.
2. (Law) To take, seize, or apprehend by authority of law; as, to arrest one for debt,
or for a crime.
&fist; After this word Shakespeare uses of ("I arrest thee of high treason") or on; the
modern usage is for.
3. To seize on and
fix; to hold; to catch; as, to
arrest the eyes or attention.
Buckminster.
4. To
rest or fasten; to fix; to concentrate. [Obs.]
We may arrest our thoughts upon the divine mercies.
Jer.
Taylor.
Syn. -- To obstruct; delay; detain; check; hinder; stop; apprehend; seize; lay hold of.
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