district
pronunciation
How to pronounce district in British English:
UK [ˈdɪstrɪkt]
How to pronounce district in American English:
US [ˈdɪstrɪkt]
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- Noun:
- a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
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- Verb:
- regulate housing in; of certain areas of towns
Word Origin
- district
- district: [17] District started life as the past participle of the verb which gave English distrain [13] and strain. It came via French district from medieval Latin districtus; this meant literally ‘seized, compelled’, and hence was used as a noun in the sense ‘seizure of offenders’, and hence ‘exercise of justice’, and finally ‘area in which justice is so exercised (in the feudal system)’.This was the word’s meaning when it was first borrowed into English, and it was not really until the early 18th century that its much more general modern application developed. Districtus was the past participle of Latin distringere, a compound verb formed from the prefix dis- ‘apart’ and stringere ‘pull tight’ (source of English strain, strict, stringent, stress, etc).In classical times it meant ‘draw apart, detain, hinder’, but by the Middle Ages this had moved on to ‘seize, compel’, which were the main senses in which it entered English as distrain (via Old French destreindre). Latin districtus was also the source of a Vulgar Latin noun *districtia ‘narrowness’, which passed via Old French destresse into English as distress [13].=> distrain, distress, strain, stress, strict, stringent
- district (n.)
- 1610s, "territory under the jurisdiction of a lord or officer," from French district (16c.), from Medieval Latin districtus "restraining of offenders, jurisdiction," then under the feudal system "area of jurisdiction," noun use of past participle of Latin distringere "hinder, detain" (see distress). Used vaguely of "any tract of land" from 1712. District attorney attested by 1789, American English.
Example
- 1. London 's financial district would look to past glories .
- 2. Forty-one states plus the district of columbia have lotteries .
- 3. The district had been a key post in the opium trade .
- 4. Business is booming at green , a marriage-hunting bar in tokyo 's nightlife district of roppongi .
- 5. Fda consumer consultants are appointed in each field district to maintain communications with consumers and ensure that fda considers their needs and problems .