Where does “vexing” come from?
Vexing comes from Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre, meaning to shake or jolt, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷegs-.
vexing (English): present participle of vex; vexation
Definitions
- present participle of vex; vexation
Ancestry of “vexing”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | vexynge | harassment worldly or spiritual |
| 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 |