n.
- extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
- the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty.
- Medicine a state of physical strain, especially difficulty in breathing.
- Law another term for distraint.
v.
- cause distress to.
- give (furniture or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear.
Derivative
- distressed adj.
- distressful adj.
- distressing adj.
- distressingly adv.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. destresce (n.), destrecier (v.), based on L. distringere ‘stretch apart’.