vex
v 1: cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor
irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers
me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after
she leaves" [syn: annoy, rag, get to, bother, get
at, irritate, rile, nark, nettle, gravel, vex,
chafe, devil]
2: disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation
or distress; "I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is
worrying me" [syn: worry, vex] [ant: assure,
reassure]
3: change the arrangement or position of [syn: agitate, vex,
disturb, commove, shake up, stir up, raise up]
4: subject to prolonged examination, discussion, or
deliberation; "vex the subject of the death penalty"
5: be a mystery or bewildering to; "This beats me!"; "Got me--I
don't know the answer!"; "a vexing problem"; "This question
really stuck me" [syn: perplex, vex, stick, get,
puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder,
flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, amaze,
dumbfound]
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Vex \Vex\ (v[e^]ks), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vexed (v[e^]kst); p.
pr. & vb. n. Vexing.] [F. vexer, L. vexare, vexatum, to
vex, originally, to shake, toss, in carrying, v. intens. fr.
vehere, vectum, to carry. See Vehicle.]
1. To toss back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.
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White curl the waves, and the vexed ocean roars.
--Pope.
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2. To make angry or annoyed by little provocations; to
irritate; to plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict; to
trouble; to tease. "I will not vex your souls." --Shak.
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Ten thousand torments vex my heart. --Prior.
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3. To twist; to weave. [R.]
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Some English wool, vexed in a Belgian loom.
--Dryden.
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Syn: See Tease.
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