4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Distress  \Dis*tress"\,  n.  [OE.  destresse,  distresse,  OF 
  destresse,  destrece  F.  d['e]tresse,  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}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Distress  \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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  distress 
  n  1:  psychological  suffering;  "the  death  of  his  wife  caused  him 
  great  distress"  [syn:  {hurt},  {suffering}] 
  2:  a  state  of  adversity  (danger  or  affliction  or  need);  "in 
  trouble  with  the  police";  "he  wanted  to  cure  the  ills  of 
  all  mankind";  "she  was  the  classic  maiden  in  distress" 
  [syn:  {trouble},  {ill}] 
  3:  a  strong  feeling  of  anxiety;  "his  distress  as  the  prospect 
  of  being  fired";  "it  is  not  work  but  worry  that  kills"; 
  "he  wanted  to  die  and  end  his  troubles"  [syn:  {worry},  {trouble}] 
  4:  the  seizure  and  holding  of  property  as  security  for  payment 
  of  a  debt  or  satisfaction  of  a  claim  [syn:  {distraint}] 
  v  :  cause  mental  pain  to 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  DISTRESS,  n.  A  disease  incurred  by  exposure  to  the  prosperity  of  a 
  friend. 
 
 

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