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.
Du*ress" (?), v. t. To subject to
duress. "The party duressed." Bacon.