distress

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˈstrɛs/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain: to his distress he saw that she was trembling her fingers flew to her throat in distress
  • the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help: vessels in distress on or near the coast [as modifier]: a distress call
  • difficulty caused by lack of money: a company in financial distress
  • Medicine a state of physical strain, especially difficulty in breathing: they said the baby was in distress

verb

[with object]
  • 1cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain: I didn’t mean to distress you please don’t distress yourself
  • 2give (furniture or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear: the manner in which leather jackets are industrially distressed

Derivatives

distressful

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French destresce (noun), destrecier (verb), based on Latin distringere 'stretch apart'