transitive. To trouble the body (only in Old English) or the mind; to afflict, worry, disturb, perplex. Obsolete.

transitive. To chafe, irritate. Chiefly with regard to the mind: To annoy, distress, vex, worry. Also, to fret oneself; and to bring into or to (a…

esp. To harass, vex, worry; to afflict, make anxious, ‘prove’.

Phrases. to lead,rarely give (a person) a dance; figurative to lead (him) in a wearying, perplexing, or disappointing course; to cause him to…

transitive (in passive). Scottish. To be hard-pressed; to be troubled, worried, or oppressed.

transitive. English regional (northern and midlands). To trouble, perplex, worry, or bother (someone). Cf. pother, v. 1. Now rare.

transitive. To cause (a person) to fidget; to make uncomfortable, trouble or worry; reflexive to take trouble. to fidget into: to force into a…

transitive. To worry, distress, vex, pester.

To cause distress of mind to; to afflict with mental trouble or agitation; to make anxious and ill at ease. Chiefly of a cause or circumstance, or…

fig. (trans. and intr.) To exercise, excite; to worry, perturb; esp. in phr. what's biting you? colloq. (orig. U.S.).

= disquiet, v.

transitive. To cause (a person) stress or anxiety. Cf. stressed out adj. at stressed, adj. n.compounds.