distress

1. 根据词源含义，有点像五马分尸的感觉。
2. 就像精神分裂一样。

distress 忧虑，悲伤

dis-, 分开。-str, 拉，拉紧，词源同strict, stress. 即拉紧，紧张，忧虑，悲伤。

distress (n.)

late 13c., "circumstance that causes anxiety or hardship," from Old French destresse, from Vulgar Latin *districtia "restraint, affliction, narrowness, distress," from Latin districtus, past participle of distringere "draw apart, hinder," also, in Medieval Latin "compel, coerce," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + stringere "draw tight, press together" (see strain (v.)). Meaning "anguish, suffering; grief" is from c. 1300.

distress (v.)

late 14c., from Old French destresser, from Vulgar Latin *districtiare (see distress (n.)). Related: Distressed; distressing.

1. He keeps coming to the aid of this damsel in distress.

他不断出手相助这位落难女子。

2. Adolescent suicide is rarely an impulsive reaction to immediate distress.

青少年自杀很少是由于突然发生不幸而作出的冲动反应。

3. The crew did not send out any distress signals.

机组人员没有发出任何求救信号。

4. Cecil now began to panic and fired off two distress rockets.

塞西尔此时开始慌张起来，连忙发射了两枚遇险信号火箭。

5. He expressed concern that the ship might be in distress.

他担心船可能会遇险。

【sorrow, agony, grief, anguish, torment, distress, misery, torture】
这组词都有“苦恼、痛苦”的意思，其区别是：
sorrow: 语气比grief弱，指因不幸、损失或失望等所产生的悲伤。
agony: 侧重指精神或身体痛苦的剧烈程度。
grief: 指由某种特殊处境或原因造成的强烈的感情上的苦恼与悲痛。
anguish: 指精神方面令人难以忍受的极度痛苦；用于身体时，多指局部或暂时的痛苦。
torment: 强调烦恼或痛苦的长期性。
distress: 多指因思想上的压力紧张、恐惧、忧虑等所引起的精神上的痛苦，也可指某种灾难带来的痛苦。
misery: 着重痛苦的可悲状态，多含不幸、可怜或悲哀的意味。
torture: 语气比toment强，指在精神或肉体上受到的折磨所产生的痛苦。