harass

== English == === Etymology === The verb is derived from Middle French, Old French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out; to harry, torment, vex”) (modern French harasser (“to exhaust, tire out, wear out”)), possibly from Old French harer (“to set a dog on”), from Frankish *hara (“here, hither”) (a command for a dog to attack), from Proto-Germanic *hē₂r (“here, in this place”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱe (“here; this”) + *ís (“the (person or thing just named)”) + *-r. The noun is derived from the verb. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: hərăsʹ, IPA(key): /həˈɹæs/ (dated) enPR: hăʹrəs, IPA(key): /ˈhæɹəs/ Rhymes: -æs, -æɹəs Hyphenation: ha‧rass === Verb === harass (third-person singular simple present harasses, present participle harassing, simple past and past participle harassed) (transitive) To annoy (someone) frequently or systematically; to pester. Synonyms: beleaguer, beset, chevy, harry, molest, plague; see also Thesaurus:pester Hypernyms: bother, hassle; see also Thesaurus:annoy (specifically) To persistently bother (someone, or a group of people) physically or psychologically when such behaviour is illegal and/or unwanted, especially over an extended period. To put excessive burdens upon (someone); to subject (someone) to anxieties. Synonyms: afflict, distress; see also Thesaurus:vex To trouble (someone, or a group of people) through repeated military-style attacks. Synonym: harry (obsolete) Often followed by out: to fatigue or tire (someone) with exhausting and repeated efforts. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== nonharassment ==== Translations ==== === Noun === harass (plural harasses) (archaic) Harassment; pestering. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === harassment on Wikipedia.Wikipedia William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “harass”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “harass”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. === Anagrams === hassar