■ noun
1》 extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
2》 the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty.
3》 Medicine a state of physical strain, especially difficulty in breathing.
4》 Law another term for distraint .
■ verb
1》 cause ~ to.
2》 give (furniture or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~ful adjective
~ing adjective
~ingly adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. destresce (n.), destrecier (v.), based on L. distringere 'stretch apart'.