detainer

A judge issues a writ of detainer to the court clerk.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Legal term: "detainer" refers to the act of keeping someone in custody or holding property unlawfully.
   • Writ of detainer: A legal document authorizing the detention of a person, often used in extradition or imprisonment contexts.

Usage Examples

• Legal context:
  • The court issued a detainer against the suspect to prevent his release. (A legal order to keep the person in custody.)
  • The landlord filed a detainer for the tenant's property after the lease expired. (A legal claim to hold the tenant's belongings.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be held under a detainer": to be kept in custody based on a legal order.

  • The prisoner is being held under a detainer from another state. (The detention is authorized by a different jurisdiction.)

• "to file a detainer": to formally request the detention of a person or property.

  • The prosecutor filed a detainer to ensure the defendant does not flee. (A legal step to secure the person's presence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Detain (verb): to keep someone in official custody.
  • The police detained the suspect for questioning. (They held him temporarily.)
• Detainee (noun): a person held in custody.
  • The detainee was released after the investigation. (The person who was detained.)
• Detention (noun): the state of being detained.
  • The detention lasted for several hours. (The period of being held.)

Synonyms

• Custody: the legal right to keep someone in care or control.
• Imprisonment: the state of being confined in prison.
• Seizure: the act of taking possession of property by legal authority.

Related Idioms

• In the grip of the law: under legal authority or detention.
  • He was in the grip of the law after the arrest. (He was legally detained.)

Note: "Detainer" is a specialized legal term; it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Its primary meaning relates to formal legal procedures.