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harassing
- 2 dictionary resultsha⋅rass
[huh-ras, har-uh
s] 
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | to disturb persistently; torment, as with troubles or cares; bother continually; pester; persecute. |
| 2. | to trouble by repeated attacks, incursions, etc., as in war or hostilities; harry; raid. |
Origin:
1610–20; < F, MF harasser to harry, harass, v. der. of harace, harache (in phrase courre a la harace pursue) = hare cry used to urge dogs on (< Frankish *hara here, from this side; cf. OHG hera, MD hare) + -asse aug. or pejorative suffix < L -ācea
1610–20; < F, MF harasser to harry, harass, v. der. of harace, harache (in phrase courre a la harace pursue) = hare cry used to urge dogs on (< Frankish *hara here, from this side; cf. OHG hera, MD hare) + -asse aug. or pejorative suffix < L -ācea
Related forms:
ha⋅rass⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ha⋅rass⋅er, noun
ha⋅rass⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
ha⋅rass⋅ment, noun
Pronunciation note:
harass, a 17th-century French borrowing, has traditionally been pronounced [har-uhs] , with stress on the first syllable. A newer pronunciation, [huh-ras], has developed in North American (but not British) English. While this newer pronunciation is sometimes criticized by older educated speakers, it has become the more common one in the U.S., especially among younger educated speakers, some of whom have only minimal familiarity with the older form.
harass, a 17th-century French borrowing, has traditionally been pronounced
[har-uhs] , with stress on the first syllable. A newer pronunciation, [huh-ras], has developed in North American (but not British) English. While this newer pronunciation is sometimes criticized by older educated speakers, it has become the more common one in the U.S., especially among younger educated speakers, some of whom have only minimal familiarity with the older form.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To harassing
| ha·rass (hə-rās', hār'əs) tr.v. ha·rassed, ha·rass·ing, ha·rass·es
[French harasser, possibly from Old French harer, to set a dog on, from hare, interj. used to set a dog on, of Germanic origin.] ha·rass'er n., ha·rass'ment n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to trouble persistently or incessantly. Harass and harry imply systematic persecution by besieging with repeated annoyances, threats, or demands: The landlord harassed tenants who were behind in their rent. A rude customer had harried the storekeeper. Usage Note: Educated usage appears to be evenly divided on the pronunciation of harass. In our 1987 survey 50 percent of the Usage Panel preferred stressing the first syllable, while 50 percent preferred stressing the second. Curiously, the Panelists' comments appear to indicate that each side regards itself as an embattled minority. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
