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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. Burns. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and cattle. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained for. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.

Syn. -- Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See Affliction. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To compel by pain or suffering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. A. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.

Syn. -- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty; as, distressed companies need loans and technical advice.
Syn. -- hard-pressed, hard put, in a bad way(predicate), in trouble(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. experienceing a generalized feeling of distress. Also See: dejected, unhappy, sad. Antonym: euphoric.
Syn. -- dysphoric, unhappy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. suffering severe physical strain or discomfort; as, he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing.
Syn. -- stressed, in a bad way(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. emotionally upset.
Syn. -- unstrung. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A state of being distressed or greatly pained. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress; as, a distressful situation. “Some distressful stroke.” Shak. “Distressful cries.” Pope.
Syn. -- distressing. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Dis*tress"ful*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. the quality of causing mental anguish.
Syn. -- seriousness. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. In a distressing manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing distress; painful; unpleasant. [ 1913 Webster ]