DISTRESS

I. noun Etymology: Middle English destresse, from Anglo-French destresce, from Vulgar Latin *districtia, from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere Date: 13th century 1. seizure and detention of the goods of another as pledge or to obtain satisfaction of a claim by the sale of the goods seized, something that is distrained, 2. pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind ; trouble , a painful situation ; misfortune , a state of danger or desperate need , Synonyms: see: ~ II. transitive verb Date: 14th century to subject to great strain or difficulties , to force or overcome by inflicting pain, to cause to worry or be troubled ; upset , to mar (as clothing or wood) deliberately to give an effect of age , ~ingly adverb III. adjective Date: 1926 offered for sale at a loss , involving ~ goods