† diˈstriction Obs.
[a. OF. distriction rigour, severity, arbitrary control (Godef.), ad. L. districtiōn-em, n. of action f. distringĕre: see distrain, district a.]
Strictness, severity, rigour.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. x, I ȝaue all, & I wol haue all ayen, & wiþ districcion I require þankinges. a 1631 Donne Serm. John v. 22 (1634) 10 Earthly judges have their districtions, and so their restrictions; some things they cannot know. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 191 Justice and Secular distriction are necessary for the most part in Divine Laws and Secular Institutes. |
[The erroneous sense ‘Sudden display’ in J., copied in later Dicts., is founded on a mistaken quotation of distinction as distriction in 1697 Collier Ess. Mor. Subj. ii. xii. 118.]