Stress

n. [Abbreviated from distress; O. & Prov. Eng. stresse, equivalent to distress.]

1. Distress. [Obs.] “Sad herself of his heavy stress.” Spenser.
2. That which bears with force or weight, or the force or weight itself; that which constrains, or has great power or importance; pressure; urgency; importance; violence; strain; as, stress of voice; to lay great stress upon a particular fact or remark. “This, on which the great stress of the business depends.” Locke.

By stress of weather driven, At last they landed. Dryden. Though the faculties of the mind are improved by exercise, yet they must not be put to a stress beyond their strength. Locke. 3. (Mech.) Force exerted in any direction or manner between contiguous bodies or parts of bodies, and taking specific names according to its direction or mode of action, as thrust or pressure, pull or tension, shear or tangential stress. Rankine.