transitive verb

1. to cause sorrow, misery, or suffering to; pain
2. to cause discomfort to; trouble
3. to exhaust or weaken with strain of any sort
4. Archaic to constrain (to do something)
5. Law to distrain

Etymology: ME distressen < OFr destrecier, orig., to constrain (to do something) < destrece, constraint < ML destrescia < L districtus, pp. of distringere: see distrain

noun

1. the state of being distressed; pain, suffering, discomfort, etc.
2. anything that distresses; affliction
3. a state of danger or trouble; bad straits
4. Law
   1. distraint
   2. the property distrained