Decrease and Distress

decrease

A change downward.
- usage: "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
- synonyms: lessening, drop-off
A process of becoming smaller or shorter.
- synonyms: decrement
The amount by which something decreases.
- synonyms: decrement
The act of decreasing or reducing something.
- synonyms: diminution, reduction, step-down

Decrease in size, extent, or range.
- usage: "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
- synonyms: diminish, lessen, fall
Make smaller.
- usage: "He decreased his staff"
- synonyms: lessen, minify

(v.t.) To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
(v.) A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
(n.) To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc. or in strength, quality or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
(v.) The wane of the moon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

distress

Psychological suffering.
- usage: "the death of his wife caused him great distress"
- synonyms: hurt, suffering
A state of adversity (danger or affliction or need. )
- usage: "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress"
Extreme physical pain.
- usage: "the patient appeared to be in distress"
The seizure and holding of property as security for payment of a debt or satisfaction of a claim.
- usage: "Originally distress was a landlord's remedy against a tenant for unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is given a landlord's lien"
- synonyms: distraint

Bring into difficulties or distress, especially financial hardship.
- synonyms: straiten
Cause mental pain to.
- usage: "The news of her child's illness distressed the mother"

(n.) Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout or from the loss of friends.
(n.) That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery.
(n.) To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable.
(n.) To compel by pain or suffering.
(n.) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction.
(n.) A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.
(n.) To seize for debt; to distrain.
(n.) 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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

DISTRESS is the right of a party to sell the real or personal property of another party to pay for arrears in rent or loan payments.