arrest
UK[əˈrest]US[əˈrest]
v
to seize and hold under the authority of law
v
to stop the movement or progress of something
n
the act of seizing and holding a person by legal authority
Morpheme Breakdown
ar
rest
ar
to
rest
to stop
Etymology
the word 'arrest' entered english in the late 14th century from the old french 'arester', meaning 'to stay, stop'. this old french term derived from the vulgar latin 'arrestare', a compound of the latin prefix 'ad-' (to) and the verb 'restare' (to remain, to stop). the core semantic logic is of causing someone or something 'to come to a stop'. this literal sense of stopping movement evolved into the legal sense of seizing and detaining a person, effectively bringing their freedom of movement to a halt. thus, the modern meanings of legally apprehending someone and stopping a process both stem from this fundamental idea of imposing a stop.
Analysis
Structure: ar (to) + rest (to stop)
ar- (Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to, towards'); -rest (from Latin 'restare', meaning 'to remain, to stop')
Examples
the police will arrest the suspect tomorrow.
the new treatment helped to arrest the spread of the disease.
he was released from arrest after posting bail.