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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

vexation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /vɛkˈseɪʃn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /vɛkˈseɪʃən/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Late Middle English vexacioun, vexation (“physical suffering; act of inflicting trouble (specifically through unjustified legal action); anxiety, mental distress; mental disturbance”), from Anglo-Norman vexacion, vexation, Middle French vexacion, vexation (“distress, suffering; harassment (specifically through unjustified legal action)”), and Old French vexacion, vexation (“distress, suffering; harassment”) (modern French vexation), and from their etymon Latin vexātiō (“shaking or similar violent movement; (causing of) agitation, distress, suffering; harassment, persecution; trouble”), from vexātus + -iō (suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs). Vexātus is the perfect passive participle of vexō (“to shake or jolt violently; to annoy, harass; to persecute; to trouble violently”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-. By surface analysis, vex + -ation (suffix denoting an action or process or its result, or a quality or state). Doublet of quake.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) The action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; (countable) an instance of this.
    • […] I mourne in my prayer, and make a noiſe, / For the voyce of the enemie, & for the vexation of the vvicked, becauſe they haue broght iniquitie vpon me, & furiouſly hate me. 1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Psalmes LV:2–3, folio 246, recto, column 2:
    • I ſtill had hopes, my long vexations paſt, / Here to return—and die at home at laſt. 1770, [Oliver] Goldsmith, The Deserted Village, a Poem, London: […] W[illiam] Griffin, […], →OCLC, page 6:
  2. (uncountable) The action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The action of physically annoying or irritating a person or an animal; (countable) an instance of this; also, a physical discomfort or disorder.
    • O Rome, in vvhat a ſickneſſe art thou fall'n! / Hovv dangerous, and deadly! vvhen thy head / Is drovvn'd in ſleepe, and all thy body feu'ry! / No noiſe, no pulling, no vexation vvakes thee, […] 1611, Ben[jamin] Jonson, Catiline His Conspiracy, London: […] [William Stansby?] for Walter Burre, →OCLC, Act III, signature G, verso:
    • And, gentle Puck, take this transformed ſcalpe, / From the heade of this Athenian ſvvaine [Nick Bottom]; / That hee, avvaking vvhen the other do, / May all to Athens backe againe repaire, / And thinke no more of this nights accidents, / But as the fearce vexation of a dreame. c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature F3, verso:
  3. (uncountable) The action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The action of vexing or annoying someone by bringing unjustified legal proceedings against them; (countable) an instance of this.
  4. (uncountable) The state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; annoyance, irritation; also, disappointment, discontentment, unhappiness; (countable) an instance of this.
    • He gave the doctor a look of vexation. He was surprised to see him, and resented the intrusion. 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter LV, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC, page 290:
    • He clenched his fists in vexation and looked up at her impetuously. 1918 September, Willa Sibert Cather, chapter I, in My Ántonia, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], →OCLC, book V (Cuzak’s Boys), page 376:
    • […] I spoke of the constant vexation I suffered because I could not draw better. 1887, John Ruskin, “Of Age”, in Præterita. Outlines of Scenes and Thoughts Perhaps Worthy of Memory in My Past Life, volume II, Orpington, Kent: George Allen, →OCLC, page 19:
    • All was safe and prosperous; and as the removal of one solicitude generally makes way for another, Emma, being now certain of her ball, began to adopt as the next vexation Mr. Knightley's provoking indifference about it. 1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter XII, in Emma: […], volume II, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC, page 227:
    • "Indeed you perplex me intolerably;" cried Cecilia, vvith ſome vexation, "VVhy, Sir, vvill you not be more explicit?" 1782, [Frances Burney], “A Perplexity”, in Cecilia, or Memoirs of an Heiress. […], volume II, London: […] T[homas] Payne and Son […], and T[homas] Cadell […], →OCLC, book III, page 22:
  5. (uncountable) The state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; annoyance, irritation; also, disappointment, discontentment, unhappiness; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The state of being mentally distressed or troubled.
    • So ſome, ſaith Fracaſtorius [Girolamo Fracastoro], in fury, but moſt in despaire, ſorrovv, feare, and out of the anguiſh and vexation of their ſoules, offer violence to themſelues: for their life is vnhappy and miſerable. 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Prognosticks of Melancholy”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 4, member 3, subsection 1, pages 271–272:
    • Truly, I think thou hast, and if anything could add to my grief and vexation at this moment, it is, that when I am so deep in the mire, an ass like thee should place his clumsy hoof on my head, to sink me entirely. 1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume II, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC, pages 140–141:
    • And vvhether Poverty or Riches produce the Vexation, the Impreſſion it makes upon the Heart, is alike from both. 1715, Robert South, “Covetousness Proved No Less an Absurdity in Reason, than a Contradiction to Religion, nor a More Unsure Way to Riches, than Riches Themselves to Happiness. Part II.”, in Twelve Sermons Preached at Several Times, and upon Several Occasions, volume IV, London: […] G. James, for Jonah Bowyer […], →OCLC, page 479:
    • [M]en lyued ſimplye and innocentlye without inforcement of lawes, without quarellinge Judges and libelles, contente onely to ſatiſfie nature, without further vexation for knowledge of thinges to come. 1555, Peter Martyr of Angleria [i.e., Peter Martyr d’Anghiera], “The Seconde Booke of the Fyrste Decade to Ascanius Phorcia [i.e., Ascanio Sforza], Vicounte Cardinall. &c.”, in Rycharde Eden [i.e., Richard Eden], transl., The Decades of the Newe Worlde or West India, […], London: […] [Rycharde Jug for] Guilhelmi Powell, →OCLC, 1st decade, folio 8, recto:
    • Thus I haue conſidered all the thinges that come to paſſe vnder the Sõne, ⁊ lo, they are all but vanitie ⁊ vexacion of mynde. 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Ecclesiastes j:[14], folio xlvij, recto, column 2:
    • Full of vexation, come I, vvith complaint / Againſt my childe, my daughter Hermia. c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], signatures A2, recto – A2, verso:
  6. (uncountable) The state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; annoyance, irritation; also, disappointment, discontentment, unhappiness; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The state of being physically annoyed or irritated.
  7. (countable) A source of mental distress or trouble; an affliction, a woe; also, a source of annoyance or irritation; an annoyance, an irritant.
    • [S]hould ſhe thus be ſtolne avvay from you, / It vvould be much vexation to your age. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 28, column 2:
    • She did harass Helen to give me up; but, after all, poor woman, I believe I have been a great vexation to her, and I cannot help being sorry for her. 1854, [Charlotte Mary Yonge], chapter VII, in Heartsease or The Brother’s Wife […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son […], →OCLC, pages 217–218:
  8. (obsolete, uncountable) The action of using force or violence on someone or something; (countable) an instance of this.
    • Let No Ground be ſovved that is Planted vvith Vines; for the Earth hath enough to do to Attend the Services of That Plant, vvithout the Superfluous Vexations of the Plovv over and above. 1702, Flavius Josephus, “Of the Jewish Antiquities. Chapter VIII. The Life, and Laws of Moses.”, in Roger L’Estrange, transl., The Works of Flavius Josephus: […], London: […] Richard Sare […], →OCLC, 4th book (From the Year of the World 2455 to 2493), page 94:
    • 'Tis Princely, vvhen a Tyranne doth oppoſe; / And is a fortune ſent to exerciſe / Your vertue, as the vvind doth try ſtrong trees: / VVho by vexation grovv more ſound, and firme. 1603 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, Seianus His Fall, London: […] G[eorge] Elld, for Thomas Thorpe, published 1605, →OCLC, Act IV, signature [H3], recto:
    • Name the vexations, and the Martyrizations / Of Metalls, in the VVorke. 1610 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Alchemist, London: […] Thomas Snodham, for Walter Burre, and are to be sold by Iohn Stepneth, […], published 1612, →OCLC, Act II, scene v, signature F, recto:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
vexations Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

vexatiously · vexatious · unvexatious · vexatiousness

Relateds

vexed · vexing · unvexed · vex · vexer

Synonyms

distress · hardship · affliction · wrong · misery · sorrow · grievance · vexation · woe · undelight · aggrievance · sadness · grief · ruth

Translations (70)

fi ärtymys (state of being mentally distressed or troubled) · bg раздразнение (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · ka გაღიზიანება (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · ka გაღიზიანება (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · mk надразнетост (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · fi ärtymys (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · la vexātiō (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · mk раздразнување (action of physically annoying or irritating a person or an animal; an instance of this) · fi ärsyttäminen (action of physically annoying or irritating a person or an animal; an instance of this) · fi keljutus (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · pt vexação (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · sv förtret (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Ärgernis (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · fi haitanteko (action of vexing or annoying someone by bringing unjustified legal proceedings against them; an instance of this) · fr tracasserie (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · es vejación (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Irritation (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · ru раздражение (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Störung (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · nl ergernis (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · ca vexació (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · fi ärsytys (action of physically annoying or irritating a person or an animal; an instance of this) · fi ärtyneisyys (state of being physically annoyed or irritated) · txb krāso (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Irritation (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · gl vexación (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · fi kenkutus (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · cs otravování (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · la vexātiō (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · uk роздратува́ння (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · grc ἀχθηδών (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · sv förargelse (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · es vejamen (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · mk нервирање (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · de Beunruhigung (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · fi ahdistus (state of being mentally distressed or troubled) · pt vexação (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · mk непријатност (source of mental distress or trouble — see also affliction, woe) · mk дразнење (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · grc ἀγανάκτησις (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · mi whanowhanoā (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · fi ärtyminen (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · fi ärsytys (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · ro vexațiune (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · gl vexación (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · ga crá croí (source of mental distress or trouble — see also affliction, woe) · fi ärsyttäminen (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · cs otrava (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · gd sàrachadh (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · fr contrariété (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · fi riesa (source of mental distress or trouble — see also affliction, woe) · de Belästigung (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · de Beunruhigung (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · de Ärger (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · mk надразнетост (state of being mentally distressed or troubled) · bg неприятност (source of mental distress or trouble — see also affliction, woe) · it vessazione (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · fi harmitus (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · gd sàrachadh (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · mk попречување (action of vexing or annoying someone by bringing unjustified legal proceedings against them; an instance of this) · fr tracas (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · mk раздразнување (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Verdruss (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · gd mì-shuaimhneas (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Qual (state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; an instance of this — see also annoyance, irritation) · de Plage (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · ro vexare (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · de Ärger (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · bg дразнене (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this) · es vejación (action of vexing, annoying, or irritating someone or something; an instance of this)