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distress

 - 7 dictionary results

dis⋅tress

  [di-stres]
Use distress in a Sentence
–noun
1. great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
2. a state of extreme necessity or misfortune.
3. the state of a ship or airplane requiring immediate assistance, as when on fire in transit.
4. that which causes pain, suffering, trouble, danger, etc.
5. liability or exposure to pain, suffering, trouble, etc.; danger: a damsel in distress.
6. Law.
a. the legal seizure and detention of the goods of another as security or satisfaction for debt, etc.; the act of distraining.
b. the thing seized in distraining.
7. to dent, scratch, or stain (furniture, lumber, or the like) so as to give an appearance of age.
–adjective
8. afflicted with or suffering distress: distress livestock; distress wheat.
9. caused by or indicative of distress or hardship: distress prices; distress borrowing.
–verb (used with object)
10. to afflict with great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; trouble; worry; bother.
11. to subject to pressure, stress, or strain; embarrass or exhaust by strain: to be distressed by excessive work.
12. to compel by pain or force of circumstances: His suffering distressed him into committing suicide.
Origin:
1250–1300; (n.) ME destresse < AF distresse, destresse, OF < VL *districtia, equiv. to L district(us) (see district ) + -ia -y 3 ; (v.) ME destressen < AF destresser (OF destrecier), deriv. of the n.

Related forms:
dis⋅tress⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. agony, anguish, adversity, tribulation. See sorrow. 2. need, destitution.

Antonyms:
1. comfort.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To distress
dis·tress   (dĭ-strěs')   
tr.v.   dis·tressed, dis·tress·ing, dis·tress·es

  1. To cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to. See Synonyms at trouble.

  2. Law To hold the property of (a person) against the payment of debts.

  3. To mar or otherwise treat (an object or fabric, for example) to give the appearance of an antique or of heavy prior use: "There are the fakes—new rugs which have been intentionally distressed for an older look" (Hatfield MA Valley Advocate).

  4. Archaic To constrain or overcome by harassment.

n.  

  1. Anxiety or mental suffering.

    1. Severe strain resulting from exhaustion or an accident.

    2. Acute physical discomfort.

    3. Physical deterioration, as of a highway, caused by hard use over time: pavement distress.

    4. The act of distraining or seizing to compel payment.

    5. The goods thus seized.

  3. The condition of being in need of immediate assistance: a motorist in distress.

  4. Law

    1. The act of distraining or seizing to compel payment.

    2. The goods thus seized.


[Middle English distressen, from Old French destresser, from destresse, constraint, from Vulgar Latin *districtia, from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere, to hinder; see distrain.]
dis·tress'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

distress 
c.1280, from O.Fr. destresse, from Gallo-Romance *districtia "restraint, affliction," from L. districtus, pp. of distringere "draw apart, hinder," also, in M.L. "compel, coerce," from dis- "apart" + stringere "draw tight, press together" (see strain (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: dis·tress
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French destrece, literally, tightness, anguish, deprivation, from Old French, ultimately from Late Latin districtus severe, from past participle of distringere to hinder, punish —see DISTRAIN
1 : seizure and detention of the goods of another as pledge or to obtain satisfaction of a claim by the sale of the goods seized; specifically : seizure by a landlord of a tenant's property to obtain satisfaction of arrearages in rent
NOTE: Distress is regulated by statute where available. It has been held unconstitutional by some courts.
2 : pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind —see also EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: dis·tress
Pronunciation: dis-'tres
Function: noun
: pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind distress> distress>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

distress dis·tress (dĭ-strěs')
n.

  1. Mental or physical suffering or anguish.

  2. Severe strain resulting from exhaustion or trauma.

dis·tress' adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Encyclopedia

distress

in law, process that enables a person to seize and detain from a wrongdoer some chattel, or item of personal property, as a pledge for the redressing of an injury, the performance of a duty, or the satisfaction of a demand. Distress was frequently levied without legal process, but requirements have become more stringent and now often necessitate some type of court action.

Learn more about distress with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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