vexation

Noun

vexation (countable and uncountable, plural vexations)

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...
   • 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
   1. (uncountable) The action of physically annoying or irritating a person or an animal; (countable) an instance of this; also, a physical discomfort or disorder.
      • 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]...
      • 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
   2. (uncountable) The action of vexing or annoying someone by bringing unjustified legal proceedings against them; (countable) an instance of this.
2. (uncountable) The state of being vexed, annoyed, or irritated; annoyance, irritation; also, disappointment, discontentment, unhappiness; (countable) an instance of this.
   • "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
   • 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
   1. (uncountable) The state of being mentally distressed or troubled.
      • 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...
      • [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....
   2. (uncountable) The state of being physically annoyed or irritated.
3. (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...
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   affliction, aggrievance, distress, grief, grievance, hardship, misery, ruth, sadness, sorrow

4. (obsolete, uncountable) The action of using force or violence on someone or something; (countable) an instance of this.
   • '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...