Where does “vexen” come from?

vexen (Middle English) comes from Old French vexer, from Latin vexo, from Proto-Indo-European gʷegs-, from Proto-Indo-European gʷog- — to shake, swing.

vexen (Middle English): To afflict; to hurt someone

Definitions

  1. To afflict; to hurt someone

Ancestry of “vexen”, step by step

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

Words derived from “vexen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷog- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷegs- →Every word from Latin vexo →
vexen — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer