n. & v.
n. 1 severe pain, sorrow, anguish, etc. 2 the lack of money or comforts. 3 Law = DISTRAINT. 4 breathlessness; exhaustion.
v.tr. 1 subject to distress; exhaust, afflict. 2 cause anxiety to; make unhappy; vex. distress-signal a signal from a ship in danger. distress-warrant Law a warrant authorizing distraint. in distress 1 suffering or in danger. 2 (of a ship, aircraft, etc.) in danger or damaged. distressful adj. distressingly adv.
[ ME f. OF destresse etc., AF destresser, OF -ecier f. Gallo-Roman (as DISTRAIN) ]