harass
English
Etymology
From Old French harasser (“to tire out, to vex”). Origin uncertain; compare Old French harier (“harry”); see harry; compare Old French, harace (“a basket made of cords”), harace, harasse (“a very heavy and large shield; or harer to set (a dog) on”).
Pronunciation
- (GenAm) enPR: hərăsʹ, IPA: /həˈræs/, X-SAMPA: /h@"r{s/
- Rhymes: -æs
- (RP) enPR: hăʹrəs, IPA: /ˈhærəs/, X-SAMPA: /"h{r@s/
- Rhymes: -ærəs
Verb
harass (third-person singular simple present harasses, present participle harassing, simple past and past participle harassed)
- To fatigue or to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts.
- To annoy endlessly or systematically; to molest.
- 1877, Anna Sewell, Black Beauty Chapter 23[1]
- In my old home, I always knew that John and my master were my friends; but here, although in many ways I was well treated, I had no friend. York might have known, and very likely did know, how that rein harassed me; but I suppose he took it as a matter of course that could not be helped; at any rate nothing was done to relieve me.
- 1877, Anna Sewell, Black Beauty Chapter 23[1]
- To put excessive burdens upon; to subject to anxieties.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
to fatigue or tire
to annoy; to molest
|
to put excessive burdens upon
External links
- harass in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- harass in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
Noun
harass
- (obsolete) devastation; waste
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)
- (obsolete) worry; harassment
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Byron to this entry?)