The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Stress \Stress\, n. [Abbrev. fr. distress; or cf. OF. estrecier
   to press, pinch, (assumed) LL. strictiare, fr. L. strictus.
   See Distress.]
   1. Distress. [Obs.]
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            Sad hersal of his heavy stress.       --Spenser.
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   2. Pressure, strain; -- used chiefly of immaterial things;
      except in mechanics; hence, urgency; importance; weight;
      significance.
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            The faculties of the mind are improved by exercise,
            yet they must not be put to a stress beyond their
            strength.                             --Locke.
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            A body may as well lay too little as too much stress
            upon a dream.                         --L'Estrange.
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   3. (Mech. & Physics) The force, or combination of forces,
      which produces a strain; force exerted in any direction or
      manner between contiguous bodies, or parts of bodies, and
      taking specific names according to its direction, or mode
      of action, as thrust or pressure, pull or tension, shear
      or tangential stress. --Rankine.
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            Stress is the mutual action between portions of
            matter.                               --Clerk
                                                  Maxwell.
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   4. (Pron.) Force of utterance expended upon words or
      syllables. Stress is in English the chief element in
      accent and is one of the most important in emphasis. See
      Guide to pronunciation, [sect][sect] 31-35.
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   5. (Scots Law) Distress; the act of distraining; also, the
      thing distrained.
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   Stress of voice, unusual exertion of the voice.

   Stress of weather, constraint imposed by continued bad
      weather; as, to be driven back to port by stress of
      weather.

   To lay stress upon, to attach great importance to; to
      emphasize. "Consider how great a stress is laid upon this
      duty." --Atterbury.

   To put stress upon, or To put to a stress, to strain.
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