Du"ress (?), n. [OF. duresse, du, hardship, severity, L. duritia, durities, fr. durus hard. See Dure.]
1.
Hardship; constraint; pressure; imprisonment; restraint of liberty.
The agreements . . . made with the landlords during the time of slavery, are only the effect of duress and force.
Burke.
2. Law
The state of compulsion or necessity in which a person is influenced, whether by the unlawful restrain of his liberty or by actual or threatened physical violence, to incur a civil liability or to commit an offense.
© Webster 1913.
Du*ress" (?), v. t.
To subject to duress.
"The party
duressed."
Bacon.
© Webster 1913.