harass
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harass
- /həˈɹæs/ US, UK
- /ˈhæɹəs/ dated
Rhymes with -æs, -æɹəs
Where it comes from
The verb is derived from Middle French, Old French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out; to harry, torment, vex”) (modern French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out”)), possibly from Old French harer (“to set a dog on”), from Frankish *hara (“here, hither”) (a command for a dog to attack), from Proto-Germanic *hē₂r (“here, in this place”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱe (“here; this”) + *ís (“the (person or thing just named)”) + *-r.
The noun is derived from the verb.
verb harasses · harassing · harassed
- To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester. For it is a stout calf, ripe for the temples and altar [to be sacrificed], and to be sprinkled with wine; who is now ashamed to draw the dugs of his mother, and who harasseth the oaks with his budding horn.
- To persistently bother (someone, or a group of people) physically or psychologically when such behaviour is illegal and/or unwanted, especially over an extended period. I am gay and have AIDS and would very much like to write to someone. It is vey lonely here and they seem to think I'm going to die soon, though I wonder if they aren't just harassing me.
- To put excessive burdens upon (someone); to subject (someone) to anxieties. To harass good people is no different than speaking ill of them.
- To trouble (someone, or a group of people) through repeated military-style attacks. But meanevvhile, to harraſſe and vvearie the Engliſh, they [the French] did vpon all aduantages ſet vpon them vvith their Light-Horſe; vvherein neuertheleſſe they receiued commonly loſſe, eſpecially by meanes of the Engliſh-Archers.
- Often followed by out: to fatigue or tire (someone) with exhausting and repeated efforts. VVhich Troupes came to the Army but the day before, harraſed vvith a long and vveariſome march: and (as it is left for a memorable circumſtance in all Stories,) the Souldiers, being more ſenſible of a little Heat of the Sunne, than of any cold Feare of Death, caſt avvay their Armour, and Garments fr
noun harasses
- Harassment; pestering. Mean while the men of Judah to prevent / The harraſs of thir Land, beſet me round; […]
