arrester
|ar-res-ter|
🇺🇸
/əˈrɛstər/
🇬🇧
/əˈrɛstə/
(arrest)
seize or stop
Etymology
'arrester' originates from Middle English, from Old French 'arester' (to stop, stay), ultimately from Vulgar Latin '*arrestare', constructed from Latin 'ad-' (meaning 'to, toward') + 'restare' (meaning 'to stand back, remain').
'arrestare' (Vulgar Latin) → Old French 'arester' (verb) → Middle English 'arresten' (verb/noun) → modern English noun 'arrester'.
Initially it meant 'to stop or hold back'; over time the noun form came to mean both 'one who stops (a person)' and 'a device that stops or diverts (motion or electrical surges)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who arrests someone (e.g., a police officer).
The arrester handcuffed the suspect and led him to the patrol car.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a mechanical device that stops or slows motion (e.g., an aircraft arrester or an arresting gear).
The plane engaged the arrester cable and came to a stop on the short runway.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/19 04:26