Distress \Dis*tress"\, n. [OE. destresse, distresse, OF.
   destresse, destrece, F. d['e]tresse, OF. destrecier to
   distress, (assumed) LL. districtiare, fr. L. districtus, p.
   p. of distringere. See Distrain, and cf. Stress.]
   1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to
      suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of
      friends.
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            Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress.
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation;
      misfortune; affliction; misery.
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            Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. --Burns.
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   3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress,
      from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water,
      etc.
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   4. (Law)
      (a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal
          chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way
          of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the
          performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or
          taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc.
      (b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized
          to procure satisfaction. --Bouvier. --Kent. --Burrill.
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                If he were not paid, he would straight go and
                take a distress of goods and cattle. --Spenser.
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                The distress thus taken must be proportioned to
                the thing distrained for.         --Blackstone.
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   Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.

   Syn: Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment;
        anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble;
        adversity. See Affliction.
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Abuse \A*buse"\, n. [F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See Abuse,
   v. t.]
   1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad
      purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an
      abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an
      abuse of language.
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            Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty,
            as well as by the abuses of power.    --Madison.
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   2. Physical ill treatment; injury. "Rejoice . . . at the
      abuse of Falstaff." --Shak.
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   3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as,
      the abuses in the civil service.
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            Abuse after disappeared without a struggle..
                                                  --Macaulay.
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   4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive
      language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
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            The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of
            abuse, came to blows.                 --Macaulay.
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   5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.]
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            Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? --Shak.
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   Abuse of distress (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or
      chattel distrained, by the distrainer.
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   Syn: Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult;
        opprobrium.

   Usage: Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by
          anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is
          more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse
          generally takes place in private quarrels; invective
          in writing or public discussions. Invective may be
          conveyed in refined language and dictated by
          indignation against what is blameworthy. --C. J.
          Smith.
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