dis-

apart, away; reversal or negation

Forms

dis-
di- — Shortened in certain Latin compounds.
dif- — Used before f in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *dis, ‘apart,’ associated with the idea of ‘two.’

Note

Separating things supplied a route from physical apartness to undoing an action.

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noun / verb

distress

dih-STRESS/dɪˈstres/

Serious suffering or trouble requiring relief.

The tearful adult shows distress while a supportive friend listens.

Distressed adult sits with worried tearful expression while a supportive friend gently listens.

Etymology

disLatinapart, away; reversal or negation

+tressLatindraw tight, bind, or press

The roots combine pulling apart with drawing tight; their compound also meant hindering or coercing. This language of constraint developed into hardship and suffering of body or mind.

In context

Dr. Tracey Marks5:34

you intentionally provoke a physical sensation and tolerate the distress the sensation causes.

6 Misconceptions People With Health Anxiety Have

More examples

Losing her home causes her deep emotional distress.
The patient shows signs of respiratory distress.
The reports of injured children distress her deeply.

Forms

distress · distresses · distressed · distressing

Similar words

anguish: Intense emotional suffering rather than trouble requiring practical help.
hardship: Difficult living conditions rather than acute emotional suffering.
torment: Severe, prolonged suffering, often caused by someone or something.