Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress.
--Shak.
2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation;
misfortune; affliction; misery.
Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. --Burns.
3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress,
from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water,
etc.
4. (Law)
(a) 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.
(b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized
to procure satisfaction. --Bouvier. Kent. Burrill.
If he were not paid, he would straight go and
take a distress of goods and cattle. --Spenser.
The distress thus taken must be proportioned to
the thing distrained for. --Blackstone.
{Abuse of distress}. (Law) See under {Abuse}.
Syn: Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment;
anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble;
adversity. See {Affliction}.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
--2 Cor. iv.
8.
2. To compel by pain or suffering.
Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a
sacrifice of duty. --A. Hamilton.
3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.
Syn: To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict;
worry; annoy.