Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
DISTRESS
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English destresse, from Anglo-French destresce, from Vulgar Latin *districtia, from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere
Date: 13th century
1. seizure and detention of the goods of another as pledge or to obtain satisfaction of a claim by the sale of the goods seized, something that is distrained,
2. pain or suffering affecting the body, a bodily part, or the mind ; trouble , a painful situation ; misfortune , a state of danger or desperate need , Synonyms: see: distress
II. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
to subject to great strain or difficulties , to force or overcome by inflicting pain, to cause to worry or be troubled ; upset , to mar (as clothing or wood) deliberately to give an effect of age , distressingly adverb
III. adjective
Date: 1926
offered for sale at a loss , involving distress goods