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Added 9 October 2026

distress

/dɪˈstɹɛs/ noun

In Latin: aerumna Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about distress at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Psychological suffering.
the death of his wife caused him great distress
A state of adversity (danger or affliction or need).
a ship in distress
Extreme physical pain.
the patient appeared to be in distress

verb

Bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship.
Cause mental pain to.
The news of her child's illness distressed the mother

Origin

The verb is from Middle English distressen, from Old French destrecier (“to restrain, constrain, put in straits, afflict, distress”); compare French détresse. Ultimately from Medieval Latin as if *districtiō, an assumed frequentative form of Latin distringō (“to pull asunder, stretch out”), from dis- (“apart”) + stringō (“to draw tight, strain”). The noun is from Middle English distresse, from Old French destrece, ultimately also from Latin distringō.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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