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▪ I. distress, n.|dɪˈstrɛs| Forms: 3–6 destresse, 4–7 distresse, (4 destres, 4–7 distres, 5 distryss(e, 5–6 dystresse, 6 dystres), 7– distress. [ME. a. OF. destrece, -stresce, -stresse:—late pop. L. *districtia, f. district-us, pa. pple. of distringĕre to distrain (like angustia from angustus); distress is the fact of distraining or condition of being distrained, in the various senses of the vb.] I. †1. a. The action or fact of straining or pressing tightly, strain, stress, pressure; fig. pressure employed to produce action, constraint, compulsion; less usually, pressure applied to prevent action, restraint. Obs. exc. in dial. (in which the primary sense is still used.)
13..Cursor M. 28360 (Cott.) And i, prest, funden vte of distresse, In dedly sin has sungen messe. c1384Chaucer H. Fame iii. 497 This Eolus with harde grace helde the wyndes in distresse And gan hem vnder him to presse. a1400in Eng. Gilds (1870) 361 He sheweþ wiþoute dystresse, weiþer he be of fraunchyse oþer ne be, and be of towne. c1420Pallad. on Husb. iv. 79 Swathe a tender vyne in bondes softe: Ffor bonde to hardde wol holde it in distresse. c1450Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) II. 52 God I take to wittnes That I doe this by destresse. 1481Caxton Myrr. ii. xxii. 114 The ayer that is shette fast within, the whiche is enclosed in grete distresse. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. i. 32 In wastfull wildernesse..by which no living wight May euer pass, but thorough great distresse. [1876Surrey Provincialisms, Distress, strain; e.g. ‘Slacken they there ropes before you go, and then there won't be no distress on the [rick-]cloth’. 1879G. F. Jackson Shropsh. Word-bk., Distress, strain; stress; application of force. ‘Theer wunna be no distress on that theer 'edge tin [= till] after 'arvest.’ ] †b. The overpowering pressure of some adverse force, as anger, hunger, bad weather; stress (of weather, etc.). Obs.
1485Caxton Chas. Gt. 187 By destresse of angre he took a staffe for to smyte the messager. 1486Bk. St. Albans C j b, In grete destresse of hungre. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 87 Driven by distresse of weather about the partes of Austria. 1588Greene Pandosto (1607) 43, I was sayling, and by distresse of weather, I was driuen into these coasts. 1793Smeaton Edystone L. Contents 10, Driven westward, by distress of weather. Ibid. 12 Without any distress of weather, the Buss got loose. 2. a. The sore pressure or strain of adversity, trouble, sickness, pain, or sorrow; anguish or affliction affecting the body, spirit, or community.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 460 Þe kyng, þat so defended hym, as in such destresse. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3472 Þan were þey boþe in hard destres. c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 664 Cleopatra, To egipt is sche fled for dred & for destresse. c1400Rom. Rose 4997 Peyne and Distresse, Syknesse and Ire, and Malencoly..Ben of hir paleys senatours. 1413Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xx. 65 Ye knoweth my comforteles dystresse. 1600Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. vii. 90 Art thou thus bolden'd man by thy distres? 1611Bible 1 Kings i. 29 As the Lord liueth, that hath redeemed my soule out of all distresse. a1656Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 2 Being in great distress of Conscience. 1667Milton P.L. xii. 613 With sorrow and hearts distress Wearied I fell asleep. 1818Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. viii. 627 The Company's finances, always in distress. 1853J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. ii. iii. 252 This event..filled him with the utmost distress and despondency. 1867Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 273 There is great distress here among the poor. b. with a and pl. A sore trouble, a misfortune or calamity that presses hardly; esp. in pl. straits, distressing or strained circumstances.
1549Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par., Rom. viii. (R.), That in all our distresses we may boldly speake vnto God. 1588(title), Copie of a Letter sent out of England to Don Bernardin Mendoza..Whereunto are adioyned certaine late Advertisements, concerning the losses and distresses happened to the Spanish Navie. 1605Shakes. Macb. iv. iii. 188. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 285 So many storms, that both men, and horses felt excessive distresses. 1691Wood Ath. Oxon. II. 53 His distresses made him stoop so low as to be an Abcdarian. 1783Burke Sp. on E. India Bill Wks. IV. 129 Want of feeling for the distresses of mankind. 1842Tennyson Dora 47 Then distresses came on him. c. Naut. ‘A term used when a ship requires immediate assistance from unlooked-for damage or danger’ (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk.).
1659D. Pell Impr. Sea 291 Firing of Guns, which is commonly a signal of that ships distress that fires. 1697W. Dampier Voy. I. 394 Any Ship in distress may be refreshed and recruited here. 1726G. Shelvocke Voy. round World (1757) 320, I returned to our ships again, and made signals of distress. 1745P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 156 They fired four Guns as Signals of Distress. 1839Longfellow Wreck of Hesp. xi, Some ship in distress, that cannot live In such an angry sea! d. ‘Distressed’ or exhausted condition under extreme physical strain. (Also fig.)
1803Sporting Mag. XXII. 21/2 Fifth Round... Firby began to exhibit symptoms of distress. 1836Spirit of Times 27 Feb. 13/2 She showed some symptoms of distress and the backers of the field thought there was still a chance. 1861A. Trollope La Beata I. 162 (Hoppe) The lady arrives at the top [of the stairs] with very visible signs of ‘distress’ in wind and limb. 1887H. D. Traill in Macm. Mag. July 177/1 Their patience, which is already showing manifest signs of distress, will be completely ‘pumped’ before long. II. Law. 3. a. The action of distraining; the legal seizure and detention of a chattel, originally for the purpose of thereby constraining the owner to pay money owed by him or to make satisfaction for some wrong done by him, or to do some other act (e.g. to appear in court); according to later practice, in order that out of the proceeds of its sale (if not redeemed within a fixed period) satisfaction may be obtained of some debt or claim, now, especially, for rent unpaid.
c1290Beket 761 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 128 On me nast þu power non swych destresse for-to do. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 186 And neuer þorgh no distresse suld clayme þer of no right. 1543tr. Act 51 Hen. iii. (1266) De Destrictione Scaccarii (Berthelet), And if he brynge the tayle of any shyriffe or baylyffe, of payment made to them of the thyng demaunded..then the distresse shal sease. 1613Sir H. Finch Law (1636) 135 Distresse is a taking of chattels..found upon the same land..for satisfaction of arerages. 1614Raleigh Hist. World iii. (1634) 113 The Phocians not meaning so to lose their Rent, made a distresse by strong hand. 1768Blackstone Comm. III. 6 A distress..the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of the wrongdoer into the custody of the party injured, to procure a satisfaction for the wrong committed. 1794Godwin Cal. Williams 46 The squire..took the earliest opportunity of seizing on his remaining property in the mode of a distress for rent. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 299 A right to enter on the lands, to seize the cattle and other personal chattels found there, and to sell them for payment of the rent; which is called a distress. 1836Dickens Sk. Boz v, I put in a good many distresses in my time (continued Mr. Bung). 1875Maine Hist. Inst. ix. 250 The branch of the law which we now call the Law of Distress. b. double distress, grand distress, finite distress, infinite distress, personal distress, real distress: see quots.
1641Termes de la Ley 125 Distresse..is divided first into finite and infinite, finite is that which is limited by Law, how often it shall bee made to bring the party to tryall of the action, as once or twice. Distresse infinite is without limitation untill the party comes, as against a Jurie that refuseth to appeare upon certificate of assise. 1670Blount Law Dict., Distress Personal is made by distreining a Mans movable Goods..Distress Real is made upon immovable Goods..A Grand Distress is that which is made of all the Goods and Chattels that the party hath within the County. 1768Blackstone Comm. III. 231 A distress..that has no bounds with regard to it's quantity, and may be repeated from time to time, until the stubbornness of the party is conquered, is called a distress infinite. 1861W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. s.v. Double Distress, Where arrestments have been used by two or more creditors, in order to attach the funds of their debtor in the hands of a third party, such arrestments constitute what is called double distress. †c. The right or power of distraining, the seigniory of a district. Obs. rare.
[1292Britton vi. iv. §12 Si celi garraunt ne soit mie en la destresce le viscounte de cel pays. tr. If the warrant is not situated within the distress (= district) of the sheriff of that country.] a1658Cleveland Rustic Rampant Wks. (1687) 459 The other Growtnolls of the Neighbourhood, subject to the Distress, or Seigniory of Saint Albans. 4. a. The chattel or chattels seized by this process.
[1292Britton i. xxviii. §2 Pur qe bestes et autres destresces ne soint mie trop loungement detenues enparkez.] 1411E.E. Wills (1882) 20 Takynge a distresse in defawte of payment. 1512Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 11 If..no distresse sufficient there can be founde. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 128 It was agreed..that the distresses taken for the same should be restored, and if any were perished by keping, then the Abbot to make them good. 1641Termes de la Ley 124 Distresse is the thing which is taken and distrained upon any land for rent behinde, or other duty, or for hurt done. 1700Tyrrell Hist. Eng. II. 1109 Neither the Beasts nor any other Distress..shall be sold..within fifteen days. 1886Redman & Lyon Law Landlord & T. (ed. 3) 238 The Landlord acquires no property in the distress, and it is an abuse of his power if he use the distress, except in the case of milch cows, which may be milked. †b. Old Law of Scotl.: see quots. Obs.
1456Sc. Acts Jas. II, c. 9 Item of gret stalls..of y⊇ quhilke yai haif use to tak y⊇ distress for the continuacione of y⊇ fare The quhilk distresses air to be deliueryt agane at the court of y⊇ fayr gif y⊇ persone has done na defalt nor distrubling in y⊇ fayr. 1710Summary View of Feudal Law s.v., Distresses were pledges taken by the Sheriff from those who came to Fairs for their good behaviour; which at the end of the Fair or Mercat were delivered back, if no harm was done. III. 5. attrib. and Comb., as (sense 2 c) distress call, distress light, distress message, distress signal, distress signalling, etc.; distress committee, a committee set up to help people in distressed circumstances; distress-gun, -rocket, signals of a ship in distress; distress-sale, a sale of distrained goods; distress-warrant, a warrant authorizing a distress; distress work, work provided for people in distress.
1826Sydney Smith Memoir (1855) II. 272 We hear nothing here but of distress bazaars and the high price of hay.
1913Year-bk. Wireless Telegr. & Teleph. 319 Accumulators, enabling the ship to issue distress calls. 1970Times 9 Dec. 1/1 (headline) Sea search after distress call.
1905Daily Chron. 21 Sept. 1/7 The establishment of distress committees.
1891Pall Mall G. 13 Oct. 4/3 The boat was launched one hour after the vessel showed distress flares.
1823J. Baillie Poems 199 The drear distress-gun moaning.
1885Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 818/1 Inextinguishable distress-lights.
1921Discovery Apr. 92/2 A distress message is preceded by a signal consisting of three dots, three dashes, and three dots sent as one sign, and repeated at short intervals. This is usually alluded to as the S.O.S. signal.
1868Lowell Dryden Pr. Wks. 1890 III. 139 Distress-rockets sent up at intervals from a ship just about to founder.
1883Pall Mall G. 5 Apr. 10/1 This meeting desires to call public attention to the exaction of extraordinary tithes by the distress sale effected this day.
1873Porcupine 6 Sept. 361/1 It is necessary for all craft to carry a gun for use in making distress signals.
1913Year-bk. Wireless Telegr. & Teleph. 318 Distress Signalling.
1888Union Signal (Chicago) 5 Apr., The number of distress and dispossessory warrants issued.
1905Daily Chron. 13 Nov. 4/4 The distress work is not provided except in emergencies. ▪ II. distress, v.|dɪˈstrɛs| pa. tense and pa. pple. distressed; also distrest. [a. AF. destresse-r (Statutes of Edw. III) = OF. destresser, orig. destrecier: late L. districtiāre, f. district-us: see prec. (See also senses 5 and 6.)] 1. trans. To subject to severe strain or pressure (physical, financial, or other); to put to sore straits, to embarrass; now esp. to afflict or exhaust, as painful exertion which puts a severe strain upon the physical powers.
13..E.E. Allit. P. B. 880 Þay þrobled & þrong & þrwe vmbe his erez, & distresed hym wonder strayt with strenkþe in the prece. 1483Cath. Angl. 102/1 To Distresse; vbi to Stresse [To Stresse, distringere]. 1530Palsgr. 522/2, I distresse, I put a thynge to an utter profe to trye whether it wyll holde, or endure, or not, je destraigns. 1570Levins Manip. 85 To Distresse, distrahere. 1578T. Proctor Gorg. Gallery, Pyramus & Thisbie, Distrest with woodlike rage, the words he out abrade. 1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 30 Seeing his souldiors distressed for water, he commanded them to lande and refresh themselves. 1611Bible 2 Cor. iv. 8 Wee are troubled on euery side, yet not distressed [1881 R. V. straitened]. 1661Boyle Spring of Air ii. iii. (1682) 38 Being sufficiently distressed by Avocations of several sorts. 1714Swift Pres. St. Affairs Wks. 1755 II. i. 209 [The ministry] have been frequently deserted or distressed upon the most pressing occasions. 1771Goldsm. Hist. Eng. III. 228 The..servants of the crown..distressed their private fortunes to gratify their sovereign. 1791‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsem. xii. (1809) 113 But Looby [racehorse] being distrest by the severity of this, and the first heat, was forc'd to submit to his adversary..by half a neck. 1825Mrs. Sherwood Old Times i. (Houlston Tracts I. No. 24. 10) Does he not often distress himself in order to pay a good round sum to have him properly instructed? 1868Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 339 The railway journeys distress me greatly. 1886Times 5 Apr. 7/2 Several of the oarsmen were fearfully distressed. b. transf. and fig.
1721Perry Daggenh. Breach 7 Sullage..carry'd out without the Mouth of the Thames..there subsides..and distresses the Entrance into the Port. Ibid. 20 The..Inconveniences which distress that Port. 1794Godwin Cal. Williams 25, I have seen..too many pastoral ditties distressed in lack of a meaning. †2. a. To crush in battle, overwhelm, coerce. b. To harass or put to straits in war. Obs.
1489Caxton Faytes of A. i. viii. 21 Men ynoughe for to dystresse bothe hym and his grete oost. 1494Fabyan Chron. iv. lxxi. 50 [He] was purposed to haue frayed with the sayd Maximus, and to haue distressed hym. Ibid. v. lxxix. 57 They than manfully issued out, & gaue to y⊇ Frenschmen harde batayll, but fortune was to theim frowarde, so that they were distressyd. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 1308 At the length the rebels were distressed, taken and executed. 1630R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 245 The Duke of Savoy..on the other side distressing Genoa with an Armie. a1656Ussher Ann. vi. (1688) 259 But he passing the River, quickly distressed and routed them. 1709Steele Tatler No. 29 ⁋3 Taking her as we do Towns and Castles, by distressing the Place. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. xii. 137 The Portugueze large Cannon from their Walls disturbed and distrest his Camp. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 290 Anson, with a squadron of ships..distressed the Spanish settlements on the western shore of America. 3. To constrain by force or infliction of suffering (to do a thing, into, out of something).
a1400–50Alexander 2781, I am depely distryssyd þis dede for to wirke. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. ii. 18 They could have easily distressed the Boats Crews out of the Woods. 1742Young Nt. Th. ii. Pref. (1787) 141 Yet is it an error into which bad men may naturally be distressed. 1788A. Hamilton Federalist (Webster 1828), Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. 1829W. Irving Granada I. vi. 53 Muley Aben Hassan..attempted to distress it [the city] into terms, by turning the channel of the river which runs by its walls. 4. To cause pain, suffering, agony, or anxiety to; to afflict, vex, make miserable. Now chiefly refl. or pass.: cf. distressed ppl. a.
1586[see distressed.] 1611Bible 2 Sam. i. 26, I am distressed for thee, my brother Ionathan, very pleasant hast thou beene vnto me. 1641J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 77 We must not vexe ourselves..nor distresse ourselves with bootlesse problemes. 1741Middleton Cicero II. ix. 336 To..take all measures of distressing him. 1800E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. III. 205 ‘Why’..said she, weeping..‘why distress me thus?’ 1884Forbes in Eng. Ill. Mag. Jan. 235 The Emperor had asked where he was without a satisfactory answer, whereat honest Bazaine was sore distressed. Mod. The tone of your letter greatly distresses me. Do not distress yourself about the child, he is safe. †5. To rob (of baggage, etc.); to plunder. Cf. detruss, distruss. Obs.[App. repr. OF. destrousser, perh. confounded with destroisser = destresser.] c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iv. 116 All they.. that bare ony vytaylles, they were dystressed by theym [tous ceulx q' portoient viures estoient destroussey]. Ibid. He was..dystressed of suche vytaylles as he hadde. 1546St. Papers Hen. VIII, XI. 17 Our men distressed almost all their victualles. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 373 [He] set upon them, and distressed them and their shippes and so brought them into dyverse Partes. 6. To levy a distress upon, subject to a distress-warrant; = distrain v. 7.[Quot. 1440 may be in sense 1: in the later quots. the vb. seems to be a deriv. of the n.] c1440Jacob's Well iv. 28 Alle þo lay-men, þat..ony swych clerk arestyn, or dystressin, or enprisoun wrongfully. 1609Skene Reg. Maj. 78 The distres (or gudes poynded) sall remaine in the possession of the complainer, vntil it be discussed, quhither he is lawfullie or vnlawfullie distressed. 1707J. Johnson Clergym. Vade M. 248 Quakers, who are liable to be distress'd. 1771Smollett Humph. Cl. (1815) 14, I will not begin at this time of day to distress my tenants, because they are unfortunate, and cannot make regular payments. 1823Blackw. Mag. 703 His generous chief distresses him to the very blankets on his bed. absol.1811Monthly Mag. XXXIV. 596 He..replied that the landlord might distress for the rent. 7. To damage (a piece of furniture, painting, etc.) deliberately, so as to make it appear older and often to render it more valuable as an ‘antique’; hence, to introduce the effect of wear or age on to (a new material, etc.), esp. for a fashion garment. Cf. distressed ppl. a. d.
1943H. Read Politics of Unpolitical iv. 55 In extreme cases he must ‘distress’ the piece—that is to say, employ a man to throw bolts and nails at the chair until it has been knocked about enough to look ‘antique’. 1971Times 8 Apr. 5/3 The forger..can..take a new piece of wood and ‘distress’ it by burning, warping and drilling ‘worm holes’ in it. 1981Times 29 Apr. 16/3 Most of his paintings have gilded backgrounds, which he ‘distresses’, or burnishes, producing a slightly worn appearance. 1986Sunday Express Mag. 12 Oct. 51/1 Fireplaces..are treated like pieces of furniture and distressed, stippled, hand-marbled and fussed with. Hence diˈstressing vbl. n.
1599Minsheu, A distressing, aprietamiento. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 28 He put to sea a huge fleet..for the distressing of the sea towns. 1633P. Fletcher Purple Isl. iii. xix, So when a tyrant raves, his subjects pressing, His gaining is their losse, his treasure their distressing. |