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’.