destreindre

Middle French

Etymology

Old French destraindre.

Verb

destreindre

1. to squeeze
2. (figuratively) to seize
   • 1488, Jean Dupré, Lancelot du Lac, page 75:

     angoisse de mort se destreingnoit

     fear of death seized him

References

• destreindre on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330–1500) (in French)