duress

n. [ OF. duresse, du&unr_;, hardship, severity, L. duritia, durities, fr. durus hard. See Dure. ] 1. Hardship; constraint; pressure; imprisonment; restraint of liberty. [ 1913 Webster ]

The agreements . . . made with the landlords during the time of slavery, are only the effect of duress and force. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) The state of compulsion or necessity in which a person is influenced, whether by the unlawful restrain of his liberty or by actual or threatened physical violence, to incur a civil liability or to commit an offense. [ 1913 Webster ]