| 释义 |
vexation|vɛkˈseɪʃən|
Forms: 5–6 vexacione, -acyon (5 wexacion), 6 vexatyon, 6– vexation; 5 wex-, vexacioun, 6 vexatioun.
[a. OF. (also mod.F.) vexation, or ad. L. vexātiōn-, vexātio, n. of action f. vexāre vex v. Cf. Pg. vexaçāo, Sp. vejacion, It. vessazione.]
1. The action of troubling or harassing by aggression or interference (sometimes spec. by unjustifiable claims or legal action); the fact of being troubled or harassed in this way.
Common in the 16th cent.; now rare.
c1400Beryn 3842 Yee shulle fynde..amendis for to make For our vndewe vexacioun. 14..Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) 324 Such persones as will cum to the citte..be fre withoute eny wexacion, cumyng, goyng and abydyng a day befor and a day after. 1481Coventry Leet Bk. 494 Be his longe defferynges, cautels, vexacions & troubles, he wold neuer haue conclucion, but fynde measne of trouble & vexacion to hurt & disheryte the pore comiens here of their rightfull comen, which he wolde do. 1523Act 13 & 14 Hen. VIII, c. iii. §9 The said maire..may have and use all..powers and auctorities..without trouble, lette, or vexacion of any of the Inhabitauntes. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 144 b, They loved rather the vexation of the common wealth, than peace and quietnes. 1621Sir T. Coventry in Fortescue Papers (Camden) 156 The vexacions of informers and other new devised straynes I shall endeavour to represse. 1647N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lxvii. (1739) 161 Therefore the Law provided a Writ of remedy against unjust vexation. 1654tr. Martini's Conq. China 191 Finally..came out an Edict, which forbad all further vexation, after they had killed a hundred thousand men. 1770Goldsm. Des. Vill. 95, I still had hopes, my long vexations past, Here to return. 1788Cowper Negro's Compl. 37 He, foreseeing what vexations Afric's sons should undergo. 1852Sir W. Hamilton Discuss. 232 He was constrained by their vexations to abandon that University.
†b. Strict examination or calling to account. Obs.—1
a1505Chron. Lond. (Kingsford, 1905) 262 This yere was Sir William Capell ayein put in vexacion,..for thinges doon by hym in the tyme of his mairaltie.
†2. The action of troubling, disturbing, or irritating by physical means; the fact or state of being so troubled or distressed. Obs.
14..Hoccleve Minor Poems (1892) 220 The vexacioun Of deeth so haastid him, þat his spiryt Anoon forsooke his habitacioun. c1440Gesta Rom. lxvi. 298 Abowte cockis crowe þe mayde, for gret vexacion þat she hadde with þe tempest, fell on slepe. 1493Petronylla 18 (Pynson), Though she had of brennynge greate feruence Twene colde and hote vexacion inportable There was no grutchinge. 1515Barclay Egloges ii. (1570) B iv/1 In all that thy sight hath delectation, Thy greedy tasting hath great vexation. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 3 b, By the tormentyng and vexacion of which sicknes,..they cast away the shetes & all the clothes liyng on the bed. 1577Hanmer Anc. Eccles. Hist. (1619) 148 Maiming, racking, and scourging, and thousands of other vexations. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 74 That he..May..thinke no more of this nights accidents, But as the fierce vexation of a dreame. 1610B. Jonson Catiline iii. ii, No noise, no pulling, no vexation wakes thee, Thy lethargie is such. 1704J. Harris Lex. Techn. s.v. Assodes febris, The Distemper usually arises from the Vexation of the Stomach by sharp and cholerick Humours.
3. The state or fact of being mentally troubled or distressed, in later use esp. by something causing annoyance, irritation, dissatisfaction, or disappointment.
c1465Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 2 Raynyng with Rewles resenable and Rightfull, The whiche for oure sake hathe sofferde grete vexacion. c1471in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 279 What vexacioun was then To the quene and the lordis... Then aftur kynge Edwarde thay cryed and did wepe. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xxv. 41 Tak consolatioun in ȝour pane, In tribulatioun tak consolatioun, Out of vexatioun cum hame agane. 1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 71 Contente onely to satisfie nature, without further vexation for knowelege of thinges to come. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. i. i. 22 Full of vexation, come I, with complaint Against my childe, my daughter Hermia. 1683Brit. Spec. 101 Those Britains..did.. so infest the Roman Province, that the very Vexation of it cost Ostorius his Life. 1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 344 They let it [a canoe] go to the first cataract,..and had the vexation of seeing it dashed all to pieces. 1782F. Burney Cecilia iii. viii, [She] very openly expressed her vexation and displeasure. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xx, The King..heard of this new trouble with much vexation. 1854Poultry Chron. II. 122/2 The vexation of the poultry owner when he sees his favourites fall under the ravages of disease. 1887Ruskin Præterita II. 19, I spoke of the constant vexation I suffered because I could not draw better.
b. In the phr. vexation of mind, spirit.
1535Coverdale Isaiah lxv. 14 Ye shal crie for sorow of hert, and complayne for vexacion of mynde. 1540–54Croke 1st Chap. Eccles. (Percy Soc.) 49 Nought fynde I but vexacion Of spryte and mynde. 1560Bible (Genev.) Eccl. ii. 17 All is vanitie, & vexacion of the spirit. 1588Fraunce Lawiers Logike Ded. ⁋2 b, The perpetuall vexation of Spirite, and continuall consumption of body, incident to every scholler. 1611Cotgr., Marrison,..chafing, fuming, vexation of mind. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iii. vii. 422 Many men spend themselues..vpon small quarrels,..with much vexation of spirit and anguish of minde. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xiv, She found her reward in vanity and vexation of spirit.
4. A source or cause of mental trouble or distress; a grief or affliction. Chiefly with a.
1594Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 305 Your Children were vexation to your youth, But mine shall be a comfort to your Age. 1612Brinsley Lud. Lit. iii. (1627) 13 It is an extreme vexation, that we must be toiled amongst such little petties. 1638R. Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. III) 165 Sir, I am your vexation in ordinary. 1765Cowper Let. to Lady Hesketh 1 Aug., It is a mark of their great charity for one who has been a disappointment and a vexation to them. 1833H. Martineau Loom & Lugger ii. v. 94 It may be a vexation and disadvantage to us. 1879Froude Cæsar xx. 344 My own vexation is, that I must pay Cæsar my debt.
†5. The action of subjecting to violence or force; the fact of being so treated. Obs.
1603B. Jonson Sejanus iv. ii, As the wind doth try strong trees, Who by vexation grow more sound and firm. 1610― Alch. ii. v, Name the vexations, and the martyrizations Of mettalls, in the worke. 1692L'Estrange Josephus, Antiq. iv. viii. (1733) 94 The Earth hath enough to do..without the superfluous Vexations of the Plow over and above. |