vexation

From Middle English vexacioun, from Old French vexacion, from Latin vexātiō. By surface analysis, vex +‎ -ation.

• IPA^(key): /vɛkˈseɪʃən/

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• Hyphenation: vex‧a‧tion

vexation (countable and uncountable, plural vexations)

1. The act of annoying, vexing, or irritating.
2. The state of being vexed or irritated.
   • 1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume II, chapter 12:

     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.

   • 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 55”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

     He gave the doctor a look of vexation. He was surprised to see him, and resented the intrusion.

3. The perceived source of someone's vexation.
   • 1854, Charlotte Mary Yonge, Heartsease; or, The Brother's Wife‎^[1]:

     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.

• vanoxite

• IPA^(key): /vɛk.sa.sjɔ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

vexation f (plural vexations)

1. insult
2. humiliation
3. harassment

• vexant
• vexatoire
• vexer

• “vexation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

vexation

1. Alternative form of vexacioun