Middle English Dictionary Entry
distressen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | distressen v. Also distressi, destressen. P.ppl. distressed, distrest. |
| Etymology | OF destrecier, destresser. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To press upon or harass (sb.); also, attack (an enemy); (b) ?to take (sb.) prisoner; (c) to pillage (an estate).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)880 : Þe rebaudez..distresed hym wonder strayt wyth strenkþe in þe prece.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)19531 : Agravayns..beheld þe begynneng of al this chas, how that the chyldren distressed were.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)140 : A place..where whas distressed la hire with all his ffelawshippe..lahire himself fled.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)269/20 : A knyght that dystressis all ladyes and jantylwomen, and at the leste he robbyth them other lyeth by hem.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)9/19 : He yssued oute of the castel at a posterne for to have distressid the kynges hooste.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)526/12 : Salesbury..was encountred..with Lorde Awdeley and moche oþer peple ordeyned forto haue destressed him.
- a1500 Ihesu þt was borne (Adv)153 : Tho pepul so sore dystrest..be est and west Robbud and slene.
b
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)117/20 : Sume wer take in the toune and putt to dethe and the remenaunt distressed by enbushements.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)531/14 : After þei had destressed & slayn þe Duke of York & his felowsship.
c
- (1446) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.37 : His lyuelod off the said Stapeley wes sore distressed, wasted, and aneyntised.
2.
Law To distrain (a person or his goods).
Associated quotations
- (1420) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.7 : If ane mon distresse þe forsayd Thurstan for ane maner of rych or tytull.
- (1444) RParl.5.114b : If it happe yat for such' defaute or necligence..ye persone or persones, or goodes, of any Merchaunt or Merchauntz..be distressed, taken, hade or arrested.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)28/8 : Lay-men þat..ony swych clerk arestyn or dystressin or enprisoun wrongfully.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)137/25 : Þat he miht distresse & kepe the distressis or sille hem.
3.
(a) To torment or torture (sb.); afflict (the flesh); (b) ppl. distressed, troubled or in distress.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)4591 : By that fleschely wylfulnesse Goddes byddyng breken we, ther-fore that flesche for to distresse gode resoun ys.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)189/9 : But for Petyr was þus dystressyd yn prison, Cryst come to hym and confortyd hym.
b
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.184v : Thenne his seruantz, by the kyng destressed, brought forth so huge plente of golde that he hadde gadered that all the peple wondred on the hope of yolow metall.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2995 : Pite..esith many a wyght þat is distressid.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2781 : I am depely distressid [vr. distryssyd], þis dede for to wirke.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.125 : Oo soueraigne solace of hertes þus distressed, Youre sentence..Ful hugely my langour haþ repressed.
4.
To restrain or control (oneself).
Associated quotations
- c1390 Þe wyse mon in (Vrn)421 : He is more worþ þat con distresse Him-self and refreyne in hastinesse, Þen he þat may fulli conquerre Al a cuntre bi strengþe of werre.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 Treat.Penit.Job (Pep 2125)192/331 : Thei shal come al abowte þe and þei shal distressy þe in euer-syde.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a) (or 3.(a)); new spelling (infinitive in -y) added to form section.