Middle English Dictionary Entry
distresse n.
Entry Info
| Forms | distresse n. Also distres, distris & destres(se. |
| Etymology | OF destrece, destresce. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A circumstance that causes anxiety or hardship; danger, threat; putten in ~, to expose (sb.) to danger or hardship; (b) a distressing situation or experience; misfortune, distress, hardship; (c) stringency, scarcity, want; (d) damage; don ~, to inflict harm or injury.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)442 : Gret toknynge..in sterres worþ y-do, And of men in earþe gret destresse al-so.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7083 : He fonde hard waie and grete destresse..fonde addren..lyouns.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.624 : Daies þre, devoide of al distresse, Þe se obreide [read: obeyed] fully to her wille.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3309 : He skaped was many iupartie, Many pereil, & many gret distresse.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1314 : Of hegh distresse, Of the tempest and the derke nyght, he dryven was..To take loggyng.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)20.334 : It was On of the grettest prowesse That Evere dide þe Emperowr In Ony distresse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)41.213 : And the See pesible..with-Owten tempest Owther distresse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)17806 : Let se ho þat so hardy is, his body to putten jn distres aȝens the Miscreawntes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15894 : [Tribulacion:] My toonges..Ben ycallyd ek 'Dystresse', Wych that werkyn to an herte fful gret anguissh and gret smerte.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)144/29 : Scho..put þys Iudas ynto prison and dystresse, tyll he wold telle hur wher þis cros was.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)337/464 : Ase a þeof he was i-harlet forth in wel fyl destresse [Hrl: schindnisse].
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)140 : Marie þe Maudeleyne..louede him [Christ] with gret honour in pays and in destresse.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)44/514 : Help me now in þis destresse!
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)57/1264 : Ȝif þou..dost vs qued for oure godnesse, On þe falle swich a destresse!
- c1390 Bi a wey (Vrn)90 : Þeiȝ þou be in prisun cast, Or eny distresse men doþ þe beode..þou beo studefast.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1605 : Who sawh evere..such destresse?..Withoute mercy wommanhede, That wol so quyte a man his mede, Which evere hath be to love trewe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.396 : As Bachus dede in his distresse Whan bodiliche thurst him hente.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1160 : Hou..Jherusalem þe ryche Watz disstryed wyth distres, and drawen to þe erþe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8144 : Many Troyan he brouȝt in distresse: Wher he went þei felt ful vnsofte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1889 : Boþe..fil on me attonys, Oppressing me in ful gret distresse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1372 : For in good herte it mot som routhe impresse, To here and see the giltlees in distresse.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1055 : Whan they hadden told al here distresse, And al here tempest and..harde cas.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3472 : Oþe breþere þey fullen alle on a res: Þan were þey boþe in hard destres.
- a1450(?1400) In blossemed buske (Dgb 102)52 : Men of armes In fight, in presoun, and distresse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.340 : The grettere partie weren forth paste Thorw gret distresse..Mochel peple was there slayn.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4822 : Likinge and plesance..stod in gret destresse.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6181 : Of men that myghty lyf may leden..And drinken good wyn precious, And preche us povert and distresse.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2784 : Þe Sarezynes haue ryhchesse, And we of alle good dystresse.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3775 : We com in pes..Vn-to no wyȝt doyng no distresse.
- (1430-1) RParl.4.385b : The pore tenauntes..of the Toun of Malberthorp in the Shire of Lincoln, whiche has ben..utterly destroyed and wastid be over flowyng and gret distres of the Water of the Sea.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)18.64 : He..smot so the lyonesse That sche dide him no More distresse.
2.
A feeling of distress; anguish, suffering; grief.
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9111 : Þe king..drou to feblesse & þe anguisse of is doȝter him dude þe more destresse.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.76 : Thow Cristes moder..o sauacioun Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse!
- (c1391) Gower CA Suppl.(Hnt EL 26.A.17)7.322/3263* : Thou wolt beholde mi destresse, Which am so full of werinesse That I ne mai unethe go.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.828 : Sche of berthe the goddesse Is cleped, so that, in destresse, The wommen..upon childinge To hire clepe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.916 : The fresshe sighte Wolde han maked any herte lighte..but if..to greet sorwe helde it in distresse.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)307 : I schal strenkle my distresse, and strye al togeder.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6962 : Þe fret of Ire put me in swiche distres..Þat..I may it nat sustene.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.439 : The fyr of love..held hym..in destresse, And brende hym so in soundry wise [etc.].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2643 : If evere thou knewe of love distresse [OF mal d'amer], Thou shalt mowe lerne in that siknesse [etc.].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)664 : His wif, that coude of Cesar have no grace, To Egipt is fled for drede and for destresse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.38 : For þat he was A man of so gret prowesse, He made non semblaunt of non distresse.
- c1450(c1375) Chaucer Anel.(Benson-Robinson)101 : And swor he wolde dyen for distresse.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)1/9 : How loue in gret distresse had holde me.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.xxxix/69 : And knowe my counfortles distresse: Ye aught to wepe for myn hevynesse.
3.
(a) Pressure of circumstances; harder ~, force majeure; for no ~, under no circumstances; (b) coercion, duress; power; bi ~, under duress; with ~, forcibly; withoute ~, voluntarily; putten to ~, to subject (sb.) to pressure; (c) kepen in ~, to control (oneself).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7314 : Lordes..trespas ful yl Þat any day ete are þey here messe, But ȝyf hyt be þurgh harder dystresse.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)898 : Neuer lesyng ne tale vntrwe Ne towched her tonge, for no dysstresse.
- c1400 Who-so loueth endeles (Sim)80 : I rede boþe hye and lowe Sey soth, and lette for no dystresse.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)761 : On me nastþu power non, swych destresse for-to do.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)863 : Mi conseil is..to paie þe kingues wille..Þanne we miȝten, ȝwane we weren of þusse destresse i-brouȝt, þe betere a-cheui In ore conseille.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)70/1990 : For ȝyf hyt þoþer nolde do, Destrayned be he scholde By rytte..Þaȝ man habbe bysemer Of seche manere destresse [etc.].
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)60 : Ȝif stude to þe grete..And whou þou metest hem in þe wey, Þou drede of heore distresse!
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.86 : Whanne he sheweþ wiþ-oute dystresse weiþer he be of fraunchyse oþer ne be.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)26/28 : He [Jesus] deliuered hem þe ten comaundementz of þe newe lawe: nouȝth þorouȝ destresse, ac þorouȝ þe manere of biheste.
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.858 : Witht oute distresse or fere done to hym in worde or in dede, he wilfully and openly confessed yat he was gylty.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)573/38 : Coaccio: dystresse.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)332 : Whil any man spekes with grete besenes, Herken his wordis with-outen distresse.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)10283 : Yf he ne wold dwell for fayrenesse, Ye shuld have hold hym with dystresse [Auch: strengþe & miȝt].
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3236 : Þai..putten hor fadir to destres, Auther of hom forto haue ȝyuen the successioun of his londe.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)298/422 : I doe this by distres.
c
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.279 : Ye can you kepen in distresse..þat ȝe be noght be hire lustynesse Corrupt.
4.
Law (a) The action of seizing goods or chattels to obtain satisfaction for arrearage, damages, and the like; don ~ on, holden ~ of, to distrain (sb.); maken ~, taken ~; (b) a writ or clause providing for the right or power of distraint in case of non-payment or arrearage; clause of ~; (c) goods or chattels seized in such actions; taken a (the) ~; -- often pl. or coll.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2908 : With wrong pleys..maystry..destresse..To make hym lese hys tenement.
- (1411) EEWills20/19 : Takyng a distresse in defawte of payment.
- (1429) RParl.4.346a : Havyng processe in suche actions of dette by somounces, attachementz and distresse.
- (?a1430) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125179 : And..tuke and held distresse of other.
- (1448) Shillingford137 : The seide maier and commonalte..shall make no somnes, attachementes, distresses, arestes, nor capies wtyn the seide fee churche.
- (1450) RParl.5.200b : Diverse misgoverned persones..takyn..diverse Persones, Goodes and Cateil..undur colour of distres, where they have noo maner Fee, Lordshipp, ne cause to take suche distres.
b
- (c1384) Doc.in Bk.Lond.E.231/50 : In the Same Endentur A Clause of destresse, ȝyf the Rent be byhynde..to reentre [etc.].
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.84 : Ȝif a man is atached þere þat somynge by-lyth to þe nexte court, by þe dystresse delyuered.
- (1425) EEWills63/30 : I wul þat þe said graunte of þe said annuite be graunted with clause of destresse.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)31 : To shewe for why that he kepte not his day that he hadde be the ferst sommones and distresse.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30155 : That they graunt by dede unto Robert..a annuall rent of xxvj s...with a clause of distresse in the same dede for the said rent.
- (c1471) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3251 : In as moch as the feffement..to them made in fe is wythoute enye clause of dystresse.
c
- (1434) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.16 : Þanne it mote be leefful to þe seyde william or his attournes, in þe seyde landis to distreyne, and þe distressis to kepe and witholde vnto tyme that þat þe forseyde ferme..fully be payd.
- (1452) Paston2.264 : John Reyner and Nicholas Strecok of Sparham have gete a respyte of Nicholas Byschop for the distresse that the seid Byschop had take.
- (?1457) Stonor1.53 : John Mathew..told me that there had been certain persones at my place at Falley and have take a distresse, thre horses, of my tenauntes.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.143 : Your servaunts..toke a dystresse for the rent and ferm that was to pay, to the nomber of lxxvij nete, and so broght them hom to Hayllesdon, and put them in the Pynfold.
- (1474) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.528 : Memorandum as distresses: For John Edward for 16 d. one mare..For Roger Pellander for 6 d. one axe.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)137/25 : Þat he miht distresse, & kepe the distressis or sille hem.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)418/34 : Yf the said rente..were behynde..hit shold be lawfull to the said abbesse..to entre in the seid College..to take distresses, and distresses so I-take to dreve and bere away.
5.
Misc. phrases: (a) bi distresse, with violence, violently; (b) out of ~, out of bounds, i.e. contrary to regulations, unlawfully; (c) holden in (at) ~, to hold in check, confine; retard.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5357 : Couetyse..In hertis may nat liȝtly staunchid be: Þe etyk gnaweþ be so gret distresse.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28360 : And i, prest funden vte of distresse, In dedly sin has sungen messe..vn-despensed sang i messe.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.79 : Swethe a tender vyne in bondes softe, ffor bond to hard wol holde it in distresse.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3348 : After þe breþere þey tok þeir weye..Ithe Mountaingnes to holdem at destresse, Þat non of hem scholde namore come..eft to Rome.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1587 : Eolus..Held the wyndes in distresse, And gan hem under him to presse, That they gonne as beres rore.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450(a1415) Mirk Fest.(Cld A.2:Powell)38/6 : Þen fel hyt as þys Gylbert ȝede into þe Holy Lond, he was taken and put in dystresse.
Note: Editor's note: "put in dystresse: i.e. put in prison, cf. dystresse, l. 9, although not so recorded MED (distresse n. 1.(a), putten in ~ 'expose (sb.) to danger or hardship')." Glossary: "dystresse n. 'prison'."
Note: See sense 1.(a) Mirk Fest. quot. with doublet, "put...ynto prison and dystresse."
Note: ?New sense, or ?modify gloss of putten in ~.