duress Hear it!

duress definition

du·ress (do̵o res′, dyo̵o-)

noun

  1. imprisonment
  2. the use of force or threats; compulsion a confession signed under duress

Etymology: ME dures < OFr durece < L duritia, hardness, harshness < durus, hard < IE base *deru-, tree, oak (orig. ? hard) > tree

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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