Cruelty that will justify granting a divorce to the injured party; specif., conduct by one spouse that endangers the life, person, or health of the other spouse, or creates a reasonable apprehension of bodily or mental harm. [Cases: Divorce 27. C.J.S. Divorce § 22.]
metus (mee-t[schwa]s), n. [Latin] Roman law. 1. Fear of imminent danger; apprehension of serious danger, esp. in the form of duress to force a person to do something; the use of threats to bring about some end. • Metus was more comprehensive than duress is in Anglo-American law. It included fear of any evil that