distressn.[OE. destresse, distresse, OF. destresse, destrece, F. dtresse, 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) 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.(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.()()v. t.[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.()()