Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DU-RESS', n. [Norm. duresse, durette, from dur, hard, grievous; L. durities, durus. See Durable.]

1. Literally, hardship; hence, constraint. Technically, duress, in law, is of two kinds; duress of imprisonment, which is imprisonment or restraint of personal liberty; and duress by menaces or threats [per minas], when a person is threatened with loss of life or limb. Fear of battery is no duress. Duress then is imprisonment or threats intended to compel a person to do a legal act, as to execute a deed; or to commit an offense; in which cases the act is voidable or excusable. – Blackstone.
2. Imprisonment; restraint of liberty.