GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Distress (?), n. [OE. destresse, distresse, OF. destresse, destrece, F. détresse, OF. destrecier to distress, (assumed) LL. districtiare, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere. See Distrain, and cf. Stress.]
   1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, “to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends”.
   
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   Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress. Shak.
   
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   2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery.
   
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   Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. Burns.
   
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   3. A state of danger or necessity; as, “a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.”
   
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   4. (Law) (a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc. (b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction.  Bouvier.  Kent.  Burrill.
   
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   If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and cattle. Spenser.
   
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   The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained for. Blackstone.
   
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   Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.
   
   Syn. -- Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See Affliction.
   
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2.       
   Distress, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Distressing.] [Cf. OF. destrecier. See Distress, n.]
   1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.
   
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   We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8.
   
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   2. To compel by pain or suffering.
   
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   Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. A. Hamilton.
   
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   3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.
   
   Syn. -- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy.
   
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