Dis*tress" , 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.
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.
A. Hamilton. 3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.
Syn. -- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy.
Dis*tress" (?), 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.
Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress.
Shak.
2. That which occasions suffering;
painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery.
Affliction's sons are brothers in distress.
Burns.
3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.
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.
If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and
cattle.
Spenser.
The distress thus taken must be
proportioned to the thing distrained for.
Blackstone. Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.
Syn. -- Affliction; suffering;
pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See Affliction.
Hear it pronounced