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duress

noun

  1. exculpatory situation in law
L319882 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /djʊˈɹɛs/ / /d͡ʒʊˈɹɛs/ / /duˈɹɛs/

noun

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English duresse, from Old French duresse, from Latin dūritia (“hardness”), from dūrus (“hard”).

  1. Harsh treatment.

    “[…]the agreements[…]made with their landlords, during the time of ſlavery, are only the effect of dureſſe and force;[…].”

  2. Constraint by threat.

    “It is unclear when it was filmed and if she was under duress during filming.”

  3. 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”).

  1. To put under duress; to pressure.

    “Someone was duressing her.”

    “The small nation was duressed into giving up territory.”