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duress

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionarydu·ress \du̇-ˈres also dyu̇-\ noun ETYMOLOGY Middle English duresse, from Anglo-French duresce hardness, severity, from Latin duritia, from durus DATE 15th century1. forcible restraint or restriction2. compulsion by threat; specifically : unlawful constraintEnglish Etymologyduress c.1320, "harsh or severe treatment," from O.Frhttp://O.Fr. duresse, from L.duritia "hardness," from durus "hard" (see endure). Sense of "forcible restraint" is from c.1430; that of "coercion" is from 1596.Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7duressdur·ess / dju5res; NAmE du- / noun[U] (formal) threats or force that are used to make sb do sth 胁迫；强迫: He signed the confession under duress. 他被迫无奈在供状上签了字。 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgeddu·ress\d(y)əˈres, -)u̇ˈ- sometimes ˈd(y)u̇ˌres or )üˌ-\ noun(-es)Etymology: Middle English duresse hardness, severity, oppression, restraint, confinement, from Middle French duresce, durece hardness, hardheartedness, from Latin duritia, from durus hard — more at dure1. : restraint or check by force (as arrest or imprisonment) :durance < while the German army was still held in duress by the Versailles treaty — S.L.A.Marshall >2. : stringent compulsion by threat of danger, hardship, or retribution : distress arising from such compulsion : coercion < a population working under the duress of dictatorship — Science > < ordinary clergymen subscribe them under duress because they cannot otherwise obtain ordination — G.B.Shaw >3. : compulsion or constraint by which a person is illegally forced to do or forbear some act by actual imprisonment or physical violence to the person or by threat of such violence, the violence or threat being such as to inspire a person of ordinary firmness with fear of serious injury to the person (as loss of liberty or of life or limb), reputation, or fortuneSynonyms: see force

Duress From Person Noun Threat Du·Ress Middle English