distress
pronunciation
How to pronounce distress in British English:
UK [dɪˈstres]
How to pronounce distress in American English:
US [dɪˈstres]
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- Noun:
- psychological suffering
- a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need)
- extreme physical pain
- the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim
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- Verb:
- cause mental pain to
Word Origin
- distress (n.)
- late 13c., "circumstance that causes anxiety or hardship," from Old French destresse, from Vulgar Latin *districtia "restraint, affliction, narrowness, distress," from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere "draw apart, hinder," also, in Medieval Latin "compel, coerce," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + stringere "draw tight, press together" (see strain (v.)). Meaning "anguish, suffering; grief" is from c. 1300.
- distress (v.)
- late 14c., from Old French destresser, from Vulgar Latin *districtiare (see distress (n.)). Related: Distressed; distressing.
Antonym
Example
- 1. The auto industry and retailing remain in distress .
- 2. I cannot tell what a profound distress overpowered my heart .
- 3. I 'm not doubting for a moment the sincerity of the couple 's distress .
- 4. Clearly , those markets are shattered and full of distress of various types .
- 5. Ben bernanke once spoke of dropping money from helicopters , if necessary , to save an economy in distress .