Lewis & Short

di-stringo, nxi, ctum, 3, v. a.

  1. I. To draw asunder, to stretch out (very rarely): radiis rotarum districti pendent, * Verg. A. 6, 616.
    Poet.: (canum) rabies districta, i. e. showing the teeth, Lucr. 5, 1064; cf.: acies dentium, Amm. 14, 7, 13.
    Far more freq., esp. since the Aug. per. (not in Caesar, and in Cicero only as P. a.),
  2. II. (Like distineo, II.) To detain a person anywhere, to hinder, to occupy, engage: Romanum a tergo, Flor. 2, 13, 1: urbem (i. e. Romanos) incendiis, id. 4, 1, 2: distringit quem multarum rerum varietas, Phaedr. 4, 26, 3; cf. Plin. 18, 26, 65, § 239: distringor officio, id. Ep. 1, 10, 9; cf. id. ib. 7, 15, 1; Quint. 12, 1, 5: (Jovem) votis, to molest, importune, Plin. Pan. 94, 2.
    Esp. as milit. t. t., to make a diversion against an enemy, to distract the attention of: Hannibalem mittendum in Africam esse ad distringendos Romanos, Liv. 35, 18 fin.: copias regias populatione maritimae orae, id. 44, 35; cf.: Scipionem oppugnatione plurium oppidorum, Front. Strat. 1, 3, 5.
      1. 2. To puzzle, confound: ut distrinxi hominem, Plaut. Truc. 5, 1, 65 (Spengel, destrinxi).
    1. B. Transf., of abstract objects: ut discordiam moveret, qua consensus Romanorum distringeretur, would be hindered, disturbed, Front. Strat. 1, 8, 1 Oud. N. cr.
      Hence, districtus, a, um, P. a.
    1. A. (Qs. stretched tight, i. e.) Strict, severe (post-Aug.): districtior accusator, Tac. A. 4, 36 fin.: feneratrix (opp. amica obsequens), Val. Max. 8, 2, 2: censura, id. 2, 9, 6: districtissimi defensores, Cod. Just. 1, 55, 6.
    2. B. Divided in mind, at strife with one’s self; hence, hesitating, vacillating: districtus mihi videris esse, quod et bonus civis et bonus amicus es, Cic. Fam. 2, 15, 3.
    3. C. More freq. and class., occupied, engaged, busy: judicio districtus atque obligatus, Cic. Verr. 1, 9; cf. (vinculo mortali) alii alligati sunt, alii astricti, alii districti quoque, Sen. Vit. Beat. 16 fin.: ancipiti contentione, Cic. de Imp. Pomp. 4, 9: labore vita districta, id. de Or. 3, 2, 7; Quint. Ep. ad Tryph. 1; * Hor. S. 2, 8, 68; Nep. Hann. 13, 2; cf.: imperium circa mala sua, Flor. 4, 12, 1; and in the comp.: numquam me a causis et judiciis districtiorem fuisse, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 16.
      Adv. acc. to A., strictly, severely.
          1. (α) districte (des-): minatus, Plin. Ep. 9, 21, 4: deneganda, Dig. 3, 3, 13.
          2. (β) districtim: innocens, Sen. Contr. 7.
        1. b. Comp.: districtius: repercutere, Tert. Idol. 5: vivere, Hier. Ep. 22, no. 11.
          Sup., Cassiod. Var. 9, 18.