duress
noun
- exculpatory situation in law
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /djʊˈɹɛs/ / /d͡ʒʊˈɹɛs/ / /duˈɹɛs/
noun
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English duresse, from Old French duresse, from Latin dūritia (“hardness”), from dūrus (“hard”).
- Harsh treatment.
“[…]the agreements[…]made with their landlords, during the time of ſlavery, are only the effect of dureſſe and force;[…].”
- Constraint by threat.
“It is unclear when it was filmed and if she was under duress during filming.”
- Restraint in which a person is influenced, whether by lawful or unlawful forceful compulsion of their liberty by monition or implementation of physical enforcement; legally for the incurring of civil liability, of a citizen's arrest, or of subrogation, or illegally for the committing of an offense, of forcing a contract, or of using threats.
verb
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English duresse, from Old French duresse, from Latin dūritia (“hardness”), from dūrus (“hard”).
- To put under duress; to pressure.
“Someone was duressing her.”
“The small nation was duressed into giving up territory.”