1564 T. Dorman Proufe Certeyne Articles in Relig. f. 96^v But because I doubte not but yow ar werie to heare so much of your owne follie, therefore I will dwell no longer in the aggrauating of that.

1595 P. Howard tr. J. J. Lansperger Epist. Christ to Faithfull Soule 20 The heauier agrauating of their damnation.

1677 Bp. G. Burnet Mem. Dukes of Hamilton Pref. sig. a3^v His cruel aggravating of some unjustifiable things.

1776 G. Campbell Philos. of Rhetoric I. i. xi. 294 The aggravating of all the circumstances of misery in the representation.

1838 J. Maclean Series of Pract. Disc. v. 67 If they [sc. our convictions] produce any effect, it can only be the..aggravating of our terror.

1945 C. A. Oakley Men at Work vi. 208 Among the harmful consequences mentioned were the impairment of hearing.., and the aggravating of nervous disorders.

1994 Y. Bar-Siman-Tov Israel & Peace Process vii. 116 The major problem was..the aggravating of the relationship with the United States.

1617 W. Hamond tr. A. Paré Method curing Wounds ii. 41 He felt an agrauating pain, as if he had beene strooke with a great stone.

1649 J. Goodwin Ὑβριστοδίκαι: Obstructours of Justice 45 Any provoking and aggravating circumstance..may well be conceived.

1721 J. Swift Let. to Pope 10 Jan. in Wks. (1843) II. 550 The grand juries of the county and city were practised effectually with to represent the said pamphlet with all aggravating epithets.

1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. I. 27 Dragged from their master's house, with very aggravating circumstances.

1856 Assoc. Med. Jrnl. 25 Oct. 906/2 A practice that is universally followed by the better classes; namely that of avoiding as far as possible the aggravating circumstances of a city life.

1896 H. C. Lea Hist. Auricular Confession & Indulgences III. ii. i. 84 The sinner is not required in his confession to include this confidence, for it is not an aggravating circumstance but rather mitigating, as it proves his trust in the mercy of God.

1954 J. G. Crawford et al. Wartime Agric. in Austral. & New Zealand iv. 92 There were further demands for emergency supplies and even domestic ‘hoarding’ became an aggravating factor.

2006 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 5 Apr. a14/2 If the nine men and three women on the jury find that the aggravating factors are greater, they will turn to the simple checkoff on the form.

1641 in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 350 The Articles of Impeachment..were carried up to the Lords, and a smart aggravating Speech made at the delivery of them.

1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Rev. xiii. 7 Our most aggravating old Church-Historians.

1715 R. Synge Seasonable Advice 19 There is something more aggravating in these Mens Conduct than hath been remark'd in the Israelites Provocation.

1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Aggravating, exaggerating, provoking.

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan III. 383 Say no more, that's enough, rather aggravatin' though, at first.

1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. xv. 136 You're a..aggravating, bad old creature!

1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad 263 No sound is quite so inane, and silly, and aggravating as the ‘hoo' hoo’ of a cuckoo clock.

1907 G. B. Shaw John Bull's Other Island i. 191 Dont repeat my words, please: it is a most aggravating habit.

1937 Amer. Home Apr. 122/3 (advt.) What comfort and convenience a water system brings!.. Even a brief interruption of such service instantly becomes an aggravating and expensive annoyance.

1995 G. Kamani Junglee Girl (1996) 139 This Anju, I can tell you, doesn't know the first thing about being a wife. In all my years I have never met such an aggravating woman!