▪ I. distraught, ppl. a. arch.
(dɪˈstrɔːt)
Also 4–7 des-, 5 dys-, 6 distraghte, 7 distrought.
[modification of distract ppl. a., L. distract-us.
Not of ordinary phonetic origin, but due app. to association with other pa. pples. in -ght, as caught, taught, bought, brought, sought, thought, wrought. Perh. more immediately influenced by straught, pa. pple. of stretch; as the latter had also the form streight, straight, it may be that distraught = distreight = distrait.]
1. Mentally distracted, by being drawn or driven in diverse directions or by conflicting emotions; deeply agitated or troubled; = distracted 4.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 218 Wherof his herte is so distraught. Ibid. 279 Many a good felawe Hath be destraught by sodein chaunce. c 1491 Chast. Goddes Chyld. xxvii. 79 Some ben so ferforth distraught..that whan they come ayen to hemself it is clene fro her mynde where they left. 1591 Spenser Ruines of Time 578, I in minde remained..Distraught twixt feare and pitie. 1608–11 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vowes i. §92 The worldling standes amazed and distraught with the evill. 1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Tri. (1632) 44 With present fear, and future grief distraught. 1848 Lytton Harold i. i, Her mind is somewhat distraught with her misfortunes. 1877 L. Morris Epic Hades i. 17, I lay awake Distraught with warring thoughts. |
2. Driven to madness; mentally deranged; crazy: = distracted 5.
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iv. iii. 49. 1594 ― Rich. III, iii. v. 4 And then againe begin, and stop againe, As if thou were distraught, and mad with terror. 1598 Stow Surv. (1842) 167/2 One house, wherein sometime were distraught and lunatic people. 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 90 Fools, madmen, melancholy, fanatic, distraught. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xix, ‘Are ye distraught, lassie?’ shouted Dorothy. 1886 Hall Caine Son of Hagar iii. v, Hugh Ritson rushed here and there like a man distraught. |
† b. Const. of, in (wits, senses, etc.). Obs. (In senses 1 and 2.)
| 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) F, Folkes distraghte of wisdome. 1583 T. Watson Centurie of Loue lxxxix. (Arb.) 125 Loue is distraught of witte, and hath no end. 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. viii. 23 Like a man distraught of his wits I cast myself at the feet of the Elephant. 1657 Howell Londinop. 66 In this place [Bethlem] people that be distraught in their wits. |
† 3. lit. Pulled asunder, drawn in different directions. (Spenserian use.) Obs.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. vii. 31 [An arrow] in his nape arriving, through it thrild His greedy throte, therewith in two distraught. Ibid. v. v. 2 A Camis..Trayled with ribbands diversly distraught. 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alph., Distraught, drawne into diuers parts. 1642 H. More Song of Soul ii. ii. ii. x, By distrought distension. |
4. As pa. pple. of distract, or distraught v.
| 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 40 b, [They] have bene distraught of their right understanding. 1625 K. Long tr. Barclay's Argenis ii. xxi. 139 What fury..hath distraught you of your wits? 1816 Southey Lay of Laureate Epil. 2 Have fanatic dreams distraught his sense? |
▪ II. † diˈstraught, n. Obs. rare.
[f. prec.]
= distraction.
| 1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all 31 They wil bring you out of the way, through distraught and feare. |
▪ III. † diˈstraught, v. Obs.
[Improperly used as a variant of distract v., on the analogy of distraught and distract ppl. adjs.]
= distract v.
| 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 59 There never happenid any on thinge..that did ever disorder and distraute the power of my mynde so mutche. 1593 Nashe Christ's T. (1613) 44 The zeale of thee distraughteth me. |