Where does “vex” come from?

Vex comes from Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexare, derived from Latin vexo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷegs- and gʷog-.

vex (English): To trouble aggressively, to harass; To annoy,...

Definitions

  1. To trouble aggressively, to harass; To annoy,...

Ancestry of “vex”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishvexenTo afflict; to hurt someone
2Old Frenchvexerto harm; to hurt, especially by torture
3LatinvexoI shake or jolt violently; I harass, annoy; I...
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʷegs-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʷog-to shake, swing

Words derived from “vex”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷog- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷegs- →Every word from Latin vexo →