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.

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.

• Being constrained by threat.