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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Distress

Dis-trĕss', n.

noun

[O. Fr. destresse, destrece, destreche, N. Fr. détresse, Pr. destressa, destreissa, destrecha, It. distretta, O. Fr. destreit, destroit, Pr. destreit, from districtus, p. p. of distringere. See DISTRAIN.]

Sense 1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends.

Sense 2. That which occasions suffering; calamity; misfortune; affliction; adversity.

Sense 3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, or want of provisions or water, &c.

Sense 4. (Law.) (a.) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel, without process of law, out of the possession of a wrong-doer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for non-payment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, &c. (b.) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction. Bouvier. Kent. Burrill.

If the lessor does not find sufficient distress on the premises. Blackstone.

Synonyms—Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; calamity; misfortune; adversity. See AFFLICTION.

Dis-trĕss', v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. DISTRESSED (dis-trĕst'); p. pr. & vb. n. DISTRESSING.] 1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8. 2. To compel by pain or suffering. Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. Hamilton. 3. (Law.) To seize for debt; to distrain. Syn.—To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex.