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Arrest
Definition
Arrest has a logical and etymological basis that precedes its role in the justice system. Arrest as an intransitive noun describes being at rest or at attention; as a transitive noun, it refers to stopping anything in its course; a stay in proceedings; seizing, ‘The apprehending or restraining of one's person … to answer an alleged or suspected crime’ (Blackstone), the condition resulting from being arrested; custody, imprisonment, durance; under an arrest; the act of arresting (the attention), and a judgement, decree or order.
As a verb, to arrest, it refers to: 1) to stop, stay or remain; 2) to cause to stop, detain; 3) to stop and lay hold of. This latter meaning in a legal sense refers to, ‘capture seize, lay hold of ...
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