- arrest (v.)
- "to cause to stop," also "to detain legally," late 14c., from O.Fr. arester "to stay, stop," from V.L. *arrestare (cf. It. arrestare, Sp., Port. arrestar), from L. ad- "to" + restare "to stop, remain behind, stay back," from re- "back" + stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Fig. sense of "to catch and hold" (the attention, etc.) is from 1814.