distress

Where does the word "distress" come from? It comes from Latin distringere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Distress’s story begins in Latin: distringere meant “to draw apart, to afflict.” To draw apart, to afflict, from dis- (apart) and stringere (to draw tight). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as destresse. Carried into French for great suffering or hardship. It reached English by 1200s as distress. Settled as the English word for extreme anxiety, sorrow, or danger. Today, distress means extreme anxiety, sorrow, or suffering, or a state of danger or difficulty.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient distringere "to draw apart, to afflict", to draw apart, to afflict, from dis- (apart) and stringere (to draw tight).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval destresse "great suffering or hardship", carried into French for great suffering or hardship.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s distress "extreme anxiety, sorrow, pain, or danger", settled as the English word for extreme anxiety, sorrow, or danger.