Search results for 'arrest':

arrest verb (arrested, arresting) 1 to take someone into custody, especially by legal authority. 2 a to stop or slow down the progress of (growth, development, etc); b to stop or slow down the progress of (a disease, etc). 3 to catch or attract (someone's attention). 4 intrans, pathol to suffer a cardiac arrest. 5 under Scots and maritime law: to seize (assets, property, freight, etc) by legal warrant. noun 1 the act of taking, or state of being taken, into custody, especially by the police. 2 a stopping. 3 a halting or slowing down in the progress, development or growth of something; the act of doing this. arrestable adj • an arrestable offence. arrester noun. under arrest taken into police custody pending a decision on whether or not there is sufficient grounds to make formal charges.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from French arester, from Latin ad to + restare to stand still.