Contents
English
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English an(n)oien, enoien from Anglo-Norman anuier, from Old French enuier (French: ennuyer), from Late Latin inodiare. Replaced native Middle English grillen "to annoy, irritate" from Old English grillan.
Verb
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Infinitive to annoy |
Third person singular annoys |
Simple past annoyed |
Past participle annoyed |
Present participle annoying |
to annoy (third-person singular simple present annoys, present participle annoying, simple past and past participle annoyed)
- (transitive) To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to bother with unpleasant deeds.
- Marc loved his sister, but when she annoyed him he wanted to switch her off.
- (intransitive) To do something to upset or anger someone; to be troublesome.
- Connie liked to annoy her brother by using him as a leg rest.
- (transitive) To molest; to harm; to injure.
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:annoy
- bother
- bug
- hassle
- irritate
Antonyms
Related terms
Noun
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Singular annoy |
Plural annoys |
annoy (plural annoys)
- (now rare, literary) A feeling of discomfort or vexation caused by what one dislikes.
- 1532 (first printing), Geoffrey Chaucer, The Romaunt of the Rose:
- I merveyle me wonder faste / How ony man may lyve or laste / In such peyne and such brennyng, / [...] In such annoy contynuely.
- 1870, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sciety and Solitude:
- if she says he was defeated, why he had better a great deal have been defeated, than give her a moment's annoy.
- 1532 (first printing), Geoffrey Chaucer, The Romaunt of the Rose:
- (now rare, literary) That which causes such a feeling.
- 1594, William Shakespeare, King Rchard III, IV.2:
- Sleepe in Peace, and wake in Ioy, / Good Angels guard thee from the Boares annoy [...].
- 1872, Robert Browning, "Fifine at the Fair, V:
- The home far and away, the distance where lives joy, / The cure, at once and ever, of world and world's annoy [...].
- 1594, William Shakespeare, King Rchard III, IV.2:
Synonyms
- (both senses) annoyance
Translations
A feeling of discomfort or vexation caused by what one dislikes
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References
- annoy in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- annoy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Anagrams
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MLB.com
"I'm going to try not to annoy them. That's something I did with some of the older guys [in the Minor Leagues]," said Storen, who is currently in Viera, ...
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