Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Arrest \Ar*rest"\, v. i.
   To tarry; to rest. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Arrest \Ar*rest"\, n. [OE. arest, arrest, OF. arest, F.
   arr[^e]t, fr. arester. See {Arrest}, v. t., {Arr?t}.]
   1. The act of stopping, or restraining from further motion,
      etc.; stoppage; hindrance; restraint; as, an arrest of
      development.

            As the arrest of the air showeth.     --Bacon.

   2. (Law) The taking or apprehending of a person by authority
      of law; legal restraint; custody. Also, a decree, mandate,
      or warrant.

            William . . . ordered him to be put under arrest.
                                                  --Macaulay.

            [Our brother Norway] sends out arrests On
            Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys. --Shak.

   Note: An arrest may be made by seizing or touching the body;
         but it is sufficient in the party be within the power
         of the officer and submit to the arrest. In Admiralty
         law, and in old English practice, the term is applied
         to the seizure of property.

   3. Any seizure by power, physical or moral.

            The sad stories of fire from heaven, the burning of
            his sheep, etc., . . . were sad arrests to his
            troubled spirit.                      --Jer. Taylor.

   4. (Far.) A scurfiness of the back part of the hind leg of a
      horse; -- also named rat-tails. --White.

   {Arrest of judgment} (Law), the staying or stopping of a
      judgment, after verdict, for legal cause. The motion for
      this purpose is called a motion in arrest of judgment.

Arrest \Ar*rest"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Arrested}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Arresting}.] [OE. aresten, OF. arester, F. arr[^e]ter,
   fr. LL. arrestare; L. ad + restare to remain, stop; re +
   stare to stand. See {Rest} remainder.]
   1. To stop; to check or hinder the motion or action of; as,
      to arrest the current of a river; to arrest the senses.

            Nor could her virtues the relentless hand Of Death
            arrest.                               --Philips.

   2. (Law) To take, seize, or apprehend by authority of law;
      as, to arrest one for debt, or for a crime.

   Note: After this word Shakespeare uses of (``I arrest thee of
         high treason'') or on; the modern usage is for.

   3. To seize on and fix; to hold; to catch; as, to arrest the
      eyes or attention. --Buckminster.

   4. To rest or fasten; to fix; to concentrate. [Obs.]

            We may arrest our thoughts upon the divine mercies.
                                                  --Jer. Taylor.

   Syn: To obstruct; delay; detain; check; hinder; stop;
        apprehend; seize; lay hold of.

Source : WordNet®

arrest
     n 1: the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a
          criminal); "the policeman on the beat got credit for the
          collar" [syn: {apprehension}, {catch}, {collar}, {pinch},
           {taking into custody}]
     2: the state of inactivity following an interruption; "the
        negotiations were in arrest"; "held them in check";
        "during the halt he got some lunch"; "the momentary stay
        enabled him to escape the blow"; "he spent the entire stop
        in his seat" [syn: {check}, {halt}, {hitch}, {stay}, {stop},
         {stoppage}]
     v 1: take into custody; "the police nabbed the suspected
          criminals" [syn: {collar}, {nail}, {apprehend}, {pick up},
           {nab}, {cop}]
     2: hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion
        or influence of; "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the
        growth of communism in Sout East Asia"; "Contain the rebel
        movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism" [syn: {check},
         {turn back}, {stop}, {contain}, {hold back}]
     3: attract and fix; "His look caught her"; "She caught his
        eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter" [syn: {catch}, {get}]
     4: cause to stop; "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress";
        "halt the presses" [syn: {halt}, {hold}]