Main Entry:

²distress

Function:

transitive verb

Date:

14th century

1: to subject to great strain or difficulties <homes distressed by poverty>2archaic : to force or overcome by inflicting pain3: to cause to worry or be troubled : upset <don't let the news distress you>4: to mar (as clothing or wood) deliberately to give an effect of age <a distressed table>

— dis·tress·ing·ly \-ˈstre-siŋ-lē\ adverb