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vex (vĕks)
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tr.v.vexed, vex·ing, vex·es
1. To irritate, bother, or frustrate: was vexed at the slow pace of reform. See Synonyms at annoy.
2. To cause perplexity in; baffle: "the mathematical, biological, and meteorological problems that vexed and intrigued him all the days of his life" (Robin Marantz Henig).
3. To cause difficulty or trouble to: "He was determined to lay to rest the problem that had most vexed his presidency" (James Carroll).
4. To cause pain or physical distress to; afflict: "O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed" (King James Bible).
[Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre; see wegh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
vexed·ly (vĕksĭd-lē) adv.
vexer n.
vexing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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