Distress
[dɪ'stres] or [dɪ'strɛs]
Definition
(noun.) the seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim; 'Originally distress was a landlord's remedy against a tenant for unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is given a landlord's lien'.
(noun.) psychological suffering; 'the death of his wife caused him great distress'.
(noun.) extreme physical pain; 'the patient appeared to be in distress'.
(noun.) a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need); 'a ship in distress'; 'she was the classic maiden in distress'.
(verb.) cause mental pain to; 'The news of her child's illness distressed the mother'.
Checked by Charlie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends.
(n.) That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery.
(n.) A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.
(n.) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc.
(n.) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction.
(n.) To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.
(n.) To compel by pain or suffering.
(n.) To seize for debt; to distrain.
Checked by Horatio
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Affliction, calamity, misery, misfortune, adversity, hardship, trial, trouble, perplexity.[2]. Anguish, agony, pain, suffering, gripe, griping.[3]. Privation, destitution, poverty, indigence, want, straits.
v. a. [1]. Afflict, perplex, pain, trouble, grieve, make unhappy, make miserable.[2]. (Law.) Take, seize, distrain.
Inputed by Angela
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See AFFLICTION_and_TROUBLE]
SYN:Harass, embarrass, trouble, grieve, annoy, vex, mortify, pain, disturb,afflict, worry
ANT:Soothe, compose, please, gratify, gladden, console, elate, comfort
Checker: Max
Definition
n. extreme pain: that which causes suffering: calamity: misfortune: (arch.) compulsion: act of distraining goods.—v.t. to afflict with pain or suffering: to harass: to grieve: to distrain.—p.adj. Distressed′.—adj. Distress′ful.—adv. Distress′fully.—n. Distress′fulness.—p.adj. Distress′ing.—adv. Distress′ingly.
Checked by Danny
Unserious Contents or Definition
n. A disease incurred by exposure to the prosperity of a friend.
Edited by Alison
Examples
- The aspect of piteous distress on his face, almost as imploring a merciful and kind judgment from his child, gave her a sudden sickening. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- In the distress that she caused me I forgot the years that had passed, and the change they had made in our position towards one another. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I won't distress him! Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- I beg and pray you to be so kind as to tell me, said I, for I am in great distress to know. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Her idea was my refuge in disappointment and distress, and made some amends to me, even for the loss of my friend. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- The day waned into a gloomy evening, overcast and sad, and I still contended with the same distress. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Don't be distressed,' said Eugene, very, very kindly. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Sir Percival looked seriously embarrassed and distressed, Mr. Fairlie stretched out his lazy legs on his velvet footstool, and said, Dear Marian! Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- She seemed to be more soured and put out than distressed, by failing to find any traces of her daughter in these parts. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Elizabeth was distressed. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- Its followers were mainly slaves, soldiers, and distressed people. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant decorums which other people may observe. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- I am quite well; I am only distressed by some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- Thou seest, Conrade, how this holy work distresses him. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- My dear child, what distresses you? Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- In the present season of scarcity, the high price of corn no doubt distresses the poor. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- He would then have suffered under the pecuniary distresses which, because they are removed, he now reckons as nothing. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- It distresses me. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Agriculture must have declined, and the population notably decreased through the plagues and distresses from which it had suffered. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- When foreign distresses came to be felt by us through the channels of commerce, we set ourselves to apply remedies. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Some intense associations of a most distressing nature were vividly recalled, I think. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- I saw the word, and am curious to know how it could be so very entertaining to the one, and so very distressing to the other. Jane Austen. Emma.
- We said no more to each other about the distressing interview of the morning. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- From the point of view of the political hack, Judge Lindsey made a most distressing use of the red herring. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- This is a distressing predicament for these young people,' thought Mr. Pickwick, as he dressed himself next morning. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Margaret could not bear the sight of the suspense, which was even more distressing to her father than to herself. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I appeal to you not to take advantage of your position in this house to make my position in it distressing and disagreeable. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
Inputed by Bernard