Where does “vexed” come from?
Vexed comes from Middle English vexed, meaning to trouble or annoy, though its ultimate origin remains uncertain.
vexed (English): annoyed, irritated or distressed; much debated,...
Definitions
- annoyed, irritated or distressed; much debated,...
Ancestry of “vexed”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | vex | To trouble aggressively, to harass; To annoy,... |
| 2 | Middle English | vexen | To afflict; to hurt someone |
| 3 | Old French | vexer | to harm; to hurt, especially by torture |
| 4 | Latin | vexo | I shake or jolt violently; I harass, annoy; I... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷegs- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷog- | to shake, swing |