vexatoryadj.
/ˈvɛksət(ə)ri/, /vɛkˈseɪt(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈvɛksəˌtɔri/ Causing vexation, vexatious; spec. (of legal action) taken in order to cause trouble or annoyance to a defendant; = vexatious adj. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > [adjective] > vexatious (of suit)
vexatious1625
vexatory1792
1792 Addr. Gen. Comm. Rom. Catholics 10 The miserable reliques of the vexatory process of a code of laws.
1797 W. Duane tr. J. Fauchet Sketch Present State Polit. Relations U.S. 18 This resolve..becomes the source of a croud of vexatory proceedings [Fr. la source d'une foule de vexations].
1833 N.Y. Spectator 17 Jan. The result of this measure has been..highly vexatory.
1888 Glasgow Herald 9 Oct. 5/5 The measures decreed..were of a vexatory nature, and..served no useful purpose.
1900 Speaker 8 Sept. 622/1 The objection..may be brushed aside as futile and vexatory.
1902 Fortn. Rev. Oct. 585 The only people who would gain by these vexatory measures would be the lawyers.
1967 Lowell (Mass.) Sun 22 Sept. 8/4 Many of his compatriots asked Monsignor Feghali if Americans of Lebanese or Arab extraction had been the object of vexatory measures.
1985 P. Hoffmann in P. Willan Vatican at War (2013) x. 147 Stringent, confusing, and often outright vexatory fiscal and currency regulations.
2005 P. Dunwoodie Francophone Writing in Transition ii. 55 Vexatory administrative measures such as arbitrary seizure, direct pressure on advertisers/printers, or the imposition of crippling fines.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
adj.1792