duress
pronunciation
How to pronounce duress in British English:
UK [djuˈres]
How to pronounce duress in American English:
US [duˈres]
-
- Noun:
- compulsory force or threat
Word Origin
- duress
- duress: [14] Etymologically, duress means literally ‘hardness’, and that was what it was used for when English first acquired it. It comes via Old French duresse from Latin dūritia, a derivative of the adjective dūrus ‘hard’ (from which English gets during). The current sense ‘constraint’ developed during the 15th century.=> during, endure
- duress (n.)
- early 14c., "harsh or severe treatment," from Old French duresse, from Latin duritia "hardness," from durus "hard" (see endure). For Old French -esse, compare fortress. Sense of "coercion, compulsion" is from 1590s.
Example
- 1. Human rights lawyers question the credibility of the confessions because they were obtained under duress .
- 2. Neither the french right nor the left has ever fully embraced market-friendly thinking , except under duress .
- 3. But because the couple were deemed " under duress " british law prevented anyone from accessing their accounts .
- 4. The judge said mr. abebe was identified as a direct result of statements made by mr. ghailani under duress while held by the cia .
- 5. Just as a creative diplomatic initiative is required to prevent a calamitous conflict , no one should doubt that tehran is coming to the table reluctantly , and under extreme duress .