n. 1. 1 an evergreen perennial (Aspidistra elatio) with large handsome basal leaves; grown primarily as a foliage houseplant.
Syn. -- cast-iron plant, bar-room plant [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught. ] 1. Separated; drawn asunder. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Insane; mad. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distracted, old p. p. Distraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Distracting. ] 1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin. [ 1913 Webster ]

A city . . . distracted from itself. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass. [ 1913 Webster ]

Horror and doubt distract
His troubled thoughts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, distracted. [ 1913 Webster ]

A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mentally disordered; unsettled; mad. [ 1913 Webster ]

My distracted mind. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Disjointedly; madly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A state of being distracted; distraction. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, distracts away. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Distracting. [ R. ] Heywood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being drawn aside or distracted. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Tending or serving to draw apart. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending or serving to distract. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. distractio: cf. F. distraction. ] 1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation. [ 1913 Webster ]

To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. “Domestic distractions.” G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

His power went out in such distractions as
Beguiled all species. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity. [ 1913 Webster ]

That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor. vii. 35. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Never was known a night of such distraction. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair. [ 1913 Webster ]

The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Derangement of the mind; madness. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult; derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Distractive. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing perplexity; distracting. “Distractive thoughts.” Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distrained p. pr. & vb. n. Distraining. ] [ OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere, districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain, and cf. Distress, District, Distraint. ] 1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [ Obs. ] “Distrained with chains.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To rend; to tear. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither guile nor force might it [ a net ] distrain. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) (a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an amercement. (b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To levy a distress. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being, or liable to be, distrained. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Distrainor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. destrainte distress, force. ] (Law) The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F. See Distract. ] Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. [ OE. distract, distrauht. See Distract, a. ] 1. Torn asunder; separated. [ Obs. ] “His greedy throat . . . distraught.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Distracted; perplexed. “Distraught twixt fear and pity.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To doubt betwixt our senses and our souls
Which are the most distraught and full of pain. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Distracted. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Pref. dis- (intens.) + stream. ] To flow. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet o'er that virtuous blush distreams a tear. Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. destresse, distresse, OF. destresse, destrece, F. détresse, OF. destrecier to distress, (assumed) LL. districtiare, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere. See Distrain, and cf. Stress. ] 1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. Burns. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) (a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc. (b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction. Bouvier. Kent. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and cattle. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained for. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.

Syn. -- Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish; grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See Affliction. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distressed p. pr. & vb. n. Distressing. ] [ Cf. OF. destrecier. See Distress, n. ] 1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To compel by pain or suffering. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. A. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To seize for debt; to distrain.

Syn. -- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty; as, distressed companies need loans and technical advice.
Syn. -- hard-pressed, hard put, in a bad way(predicate), in trouble(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. experienceing a generalized feeling of distress. Also See: dejected, unhappy, sad. Antonym: euphoric.
Syn. -- dysphoric, unhappy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. suffering severe physical strain or discomfort; as, he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing.
Syn. -- stressed, in a bad way(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. emotionally upset.
Syn. -- unstrung. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A state of being distressed or greatly pained. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with, distress; as, a distressful situation. “Some distressful stroke.” Shak. “Distressful cries.” Pope.
Syn. -- distressing. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Dis*tress"ful*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. the quality of causing mental anguish.
Syn. -- seriousness. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. In a distressing manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing distress; painful; unpleasant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being distributed. Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to distribute or be distributed; that distributes; distributive. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Distributing. ] [ L. distributus, p. p. of distribuere to divide, distribute; dis- + tribuere to assign, give, allot. See Tribute. ] 1. To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot. [ 1913 Webster ]

She did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred. Judith xvi. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Printing) (a) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases. (b) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Logic) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise. [ 1913 Webster ]

A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as to stand for everything it is capable of being applied to. Whately.

Syn. -- To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign; divide. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make distribution. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. spread from a central location to multiple points or recipients. Opposite of concentrated. [ Narrower terms: apportioned, dealt out, doled out, meted out, parceled out; diffuse, diffused; dispensed; dispersed, spread; divided, divided up, shared, shared out on the basis of a plan or purpose); encyclical; rationed; scattered, widespread; sparse, thin; unfocused, unfocussed ] Also See: distributive. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. spread among a variety of securities; -- of investments.
Syn. -- diversified. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Distributing to the necessity of saints. Rom. xii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, distributes or deals out anything; a dispenser. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That distributes; dealing out. [ 1913 Webster ]

Distributing past office, an office where the mails for a large district are collected to be assorted according to their destination and forwarded. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. distributio: cf. F. distribution. ] 1. The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate among heirs or children. [ 1913 Webster ]

The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly analogous to those of geography. A. R. Wallace. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into parts; disposition; classification. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is distributed. “Our charitable distributions.” Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Logic) A resolving a whole into its parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Print.) The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Steam Engine) The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission. [ 1913 Webster ]

Geographical distribution, the natural arrangements of animals and plants in particular regions or districts.

Syn. -- Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal; dispersion; classification; arrangement. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to distribution. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A distributer. [ R. ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. distributif. ] 1. Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing to each his proper share. “Distributive justice.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Logic) Assigning the species of a general term. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gram.) Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively; as, a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as each, either, every; a distributive numeral, as (Latin) bini (two by two). [ 1913 Webster ]

Distributive operation (Math.), any operation which either consists of two or more parts, or works upon two or more things, and which is such that the result of the total operation is the same as the aggregated result of the two or more partial operations. Ordinary multiplication is distributive, since a × (b + c) = ab + ac, and (a + b) × c = ac + bc. --
Distributive proportion. (Math.) See Fellowship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) A distributive adjective or pronoun; also, a distributive numeral. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By distribution; singly; not collectively; in a distributive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being distributive. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One that distributes; a distributer; specif.: (a) A machine for distributing type. (b) An appliance, as a roller, in a printing press, for distributing ink. (c) An apparatus for distributing an electric current, either to various points in rotation, as in some motors, or along two or more lines in parallel, as in a distributing system. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. districtus, p. p. ] Rigorous; stringent; harsh. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. districtus district, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See Distrain. ] 1. (Feudal Law) The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square. The Constitution of the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country; a tract. [ 1913 Webster ]

These districts which between the tropics lie. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Congressional district. See under Congressional. --
District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district or district court. --
District court, a subordinate municipal, state, or United States tribunal, having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicial district. --
District judge, one who presides over a district court. --
District school, a public school for the children within a school district. [ U.S. ]

Syn. -- Division; circuit; quarter; province; tract; region; country. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n. Districting. ] To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives. [ 1913 Webster ]