Stress
/strɛs/noun
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
Did you know?The word "stress" traces back to the Latin for 'to draw tight', suggesting a connection to physical tension and emotional strain as an ancient human experience.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
stringere
“to draw tight or bind tightly”
Old French
Old French
estresse
“narrowness or oppression”
14th Century
Middle English
stresse
“distress or hardship”
Late 19th Century
English
stress
“emotional or mental strain, originally in a scientific context”