mental or physical anguish
hardship or suffering caused esp by lack of money or the necessities of life
a state of danger or desperate need
a ship in distress
a medical condition in which there is strain on the vital functions, esp difficulty in breathing
seizure of property by a creditor as satisfaction for a debt; = distraint
distressful adj
[Middle English destresse from Old French, ultimately from Latin districtus, past part. of distringere: see distrain]