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
- To trouble aggressively, to harass; To annoy,...
Ancestry of “vex”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | vexen | — |
| 2 | Old French | vexer | to harm; to hurt, especially by torture |
| 3 | Latin | vexo | I shake or jolt violently; I harass, annoy; I... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷegs- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷog- | to shake, swing |