Forms: 5–6 vexacione, -acyon (5 wexacion), 6 vexatyon, 6– vexation; 5 wex-, vexacioun, 6 vexatioun. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) vexation, or ad. L. vexātiōn-, vexātio, n. of action f. vexāre VEX v. Cf. Pg. vexação, Sp. vejacion, It. vessazione.]
1. The action of troubling or harassing by aggression or interference (sometimes spec. by unjustifiable claims or legal action); the fact of being troubled or harassed in this way.
Common in the 16th cent.; now rare.
c. 1400. Beryn, 3842. Yee shulle fynde … amendis for to make For our vndewe vexacioun.
14[?]. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 324. Such persones as will cum to the citte … be fre withoute eny wexacion, cumyng, goyng and abydyng a day befor and a day after.
1481. Coventry Leet Bk., 494. Be his longe defferynges, cautels, vexacions & troubles, he wold neuer haue conclucion, but fynde measne of trouble & vexacion to hurt & disheryte the pore comiens here of their rightfull comen, which he wolde do.
1523. Act 13 & 14 Hen. VIII., c. iii. § 9. The said maire … may have and use all … powers and auctorities … without trouble, lette, or vexacion of any of the Inhabitauntes.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 144 b. They loved rather the vexation of the common wealth, than peace and quietnes.
1621. Sir T. Coventry, in Fortescue Papers (Camden), 156. The vexacions of informers and other new devised straynes I shall endeavour to represse.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lxvii. (1739), 161. Therefore the Law provided a Writ of remedy against unjust vexation.
1654. trans. Martini’s Conq. China, 191. Finally … came out an Edict, which forbad all further vexation, after they had killed a hundred thousand men.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 95. I still had hopes, my long vexations past, Here to return.
1788. Cowper, Negro’s Compl., 37. He, foreseeing what vexations Afric’s sons should undergo.
1852. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss., 232. He was constrained by their vexations to abandon that University.
† b. Strict examination or calling to account. Obs.–1
a. 1505. Chron. Lond. (Kingsford, 1905), 262. This yere was Sir William Capell ayein put in vexacion,… for thinges doon by hym in the tyme of his mairaltie.
† 2. The action of troubling, disturbing or irritating by physical means; the fact or state of being so troubled or distressed. Obs.
14[?]. Hoccleve, Minor Poems (1892), 220. The vexacioun Of deeth so haastid him, þat his spiryt Anoon forsooke his habitacioun.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxvi. 298. Abowte cockis crowe þe mayde, for gret vexacion þat she hadde with þe tempest, fell on slepe.
1493. Petronylla, 18 (Pynson). Though she had of brennynge greate feruence Twene colde and hote vexacion inportable There was no grutchinge.
1515. Barclay, Egloges, ii. (1570), B iv/1. In all that thy sight hath delectation, Thy greedy tasting hath great vexation.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 3 b. By the tormentyng and vexacion of which sicknes,… they cast away the shetes & all the clothes liyng on the bed.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccles. Hist. (1619), 148. Maiming, racking, and scourging, and thousands of other vexations.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., IV. i. 74. That he … May … thinke no more of this nights accidents, But as the fierce vexation of a dreame.
1610. B. Jonson, Catiline, III. ii. No noise, no pulling, no vexation wakes thee, Thy lethargie is such.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., s.v. Assodes febris, The Distemper usually arises from the Vexation of the Stomach by sharp and cholerick Humours.
3. The state or fact of being mentally troubled or distressed, in later use esp. by something causing annoyance, irritation, dissatisfaction or disappointment.
c. 1465. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 2. Raynyng with Rewles resenable and Rightfull, The whiche for oure sake hathe sofferde grete vexacion.
c. 1471. in Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 279. What vexacioun was then To the quene and the lordis…. Then aftur kynge Edwarde thay cryed and did wepe.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxv. 41. Tak consolatioun in ȝour pane, In tribulatioun tak consolatioun, Out of vexatioun cum hame agane.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 71. Contente onely to satisfie nature, without further vexation for knowelege of thinges to come.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 22. Full of vexation, come I, with complaint Against my childe, my daughter Hermia.
1683. Brit. Spec., 101. Those Britains … did … so infest the Roman Province, that the very Vexation of it cost Ostorius his Life.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 344. They let it [a canoe] go to the first cataract,… and had the vexation of seeing it dashed all to pieces.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, III. viii. [She] very openly expressed her vexation and displeasure.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xx. The King … heard of this new trouble with much vexation.
1854. Poultry Chron., II. 122/2. The vexation of the poultry owner when he sees his favourites fall under the ravages of disease.
1887. Ruskin, Præterita, II. 19. I spoke of the constant vexation I suffered because I could not draw better.
b. In the phr. vexation of mind, spirit.
1535. Coverdale, Isaiah lxv. 14. Ye shal crie for sorow of hert, and complayne for vexacion of mynde.
1540–54. Croke, 1st Chap. Eccles. (Percy Soc.), 49. Nought fynde I but vexacion Of spryte and mynde.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Eccl. ii. 17. All is vanitie, & vexacion of the spirit.
1588. Fraunce, Lawiers Logike, Ded. ¶ 2 b. The perpetuall vexation of Spirite, and continuall consumption of body, incident to every scholler.
1611. Cotgr., Marrison,… chafing, fuming, vexation of mind.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iii. VII. 422. Many men spend themselues … vpon small quarrels,… with much vexation of spirit and anguish of minde.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xiv. She found her reward in vanity and vexation of spirit.
4. A source or cause of mental trouble or distress; a grief or affliction. Chiefly with a.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 305. Your Children were vexation to your youth, But mine shall be a comfort to your Age.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., iii. (1627), 13. It is an extreme vexation, that we must be toiled amongst such little petties.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. III.), 165. Sir, I am your vexation in ordinary.
1765. Cowper, Lett. to Lady Hesketh, 1 Aug. It is a mark of their great charity for one who has been a disappointment and a vexation to them.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Loom & Lugger, II. v. 94. It may be a vexation and disadvantage to us.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xx. 344. My own vexation is, that I must pay Cæsar my debt.
† 5. The action of subjecting to violence or force; the fact of being so treated. Obs.
1603. B. Jonson, Sejanus, IV. ii. As the wind doth try strong trees, Who by vexation grow more sound and firm. Ibid. (1610), Alch., II. v. Name the vexations, and the martyrizations Of mettalls, in the worke.
1692. L’Estrange, Josephus, Antiq., IV. viii. (1733), 94. The Earth hath enough to do … without the superfluous Vexations of the Plow over and above.
