[ djʊ(ə)'rɛs , 'djʊərɛs ]
■ noun threats, violence, etc. used to coerce a person into doing something.
↘ Law constraint illegally exercised to force someone to perform an act.
Origin
ME (in the sense 'harshness, cruel treatment'): via OFr. from L. duritia , from durus 'hard'.