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An urgent and distressing sensation, as if a discharge from the intestines must take place, although none can be effected; -- always referred to the lower extremity of the rectum. Vesical tenesmus, a similar sensation as to the evacuation of urine, referred to the region of the bladder.

tenter. -- To be on the tenters, or on the tenter-hooks, to be on the stretch; to be in distress, uneasiness, or suspense. Hudibras.

Feeling thirst; having a painful or distressing sensation from want of drink; hence, having an eager desire. Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty. Judges iv. 19.

e, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing. "The thorny point of bare distress." Shak. The steep and thorny way to heaven. Shak. Thorny rest-harrow (Bot.), rest-harrow. -- Thorny trefoil, a prickly plant of the genus Fagonia (F. Cretica, etc.).

Trouble; distress; teen. [Obs.] "Cruel winter's tine." Spenser.

To pain; to distress; to afflict. Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. Matt. viii. 6.

To harm, afflict, or distress. Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee. Gen. xxvi. 28, 29.

violate any known rule of duty; to sin; -- often followed by against. In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. 2 Chron. xxviii. 22.

That which occasions distress, trouble, or vexation; severe affliction. When tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Matt. xiii. 21. In the world ye shall have tribulation. John. xvi. 33.

To disturb; to perplex; to afflict; to distress; to grieve; to fret; to annoy; to vex. Now is my soul troubled. John xii. 27. Take the boy to you; he so troubles me 'T is past enduring. Shak. Never trouble yourself about those faults which age will cure. Locke.

A pinching condition; perplexity; trouble; distress. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] This put the old fellow in a rare tweague. Arbuthnot.

Trouble; distress; tweag. [Obs.]

by the first, or second, intention, under Intention. -- Union down (Naut.), a signal of distress at sea made by reversing the flag, or turning its union downward. -- Union jack. (Naut.) See Jack, n., 10. -- Union joint. (Mech.) (a) A joint formed by means of a union. (b) A piece of pipe made in the form of the lett…

imputed. And upbraided them with their unbelief. Mark xvi. 14. Vet do not Upbraid us our distress. Shak.

arthest, greatest, or highest degree; as, the uttermost extent or end. "In this uttermost distress." Milton.

hope; despair; also, faint or delusive hope; delusion. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. "Wanhope and distress." Chaucer.

or state of being waste; a desolate state or condition; desolation. A day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness. Zeph. i. 15.

e cry, as some animals; to mean with a childish noise; to complain, or to tell of sorrow, distress, or the like, in a plaintive, nasal tone; hence, to complain or to beg in a mean, unmanly way; to moan basely. "Whining plovers." Spenser. The hounds were . . . staying their coming, but with a whining accent, craving lib…

[Archaic] And whisper one another in the ear. Shak. Where gentlest breezes whisper souls distressed. Keble.

A second or reciprocal distress of other goods in lieu of goods which were taken by a first distress and have been eloigned; a taking by way of reprisal; -- chiefly used in the expression capias in withernam, which is the name of a writ used in connection with the action of replevin (sometimes called a writ of reprisal…