Forms: 3 anui, 4 anuy(e, onnuy, 4–6 anoy(e, 4–7 annoye, 5 annoi, 6–7 annoie, 6– annoy. [a. OFr. anoi, anui, enoi, enui (mod. ennui), cogn. w. Sp. enojo, OSp. enoyo (Pg. and OIt. nojo), Pr. enoi, enuoi, OCat. enutg, OVenet. inodio, originating, according to Diez, in the L. phrase in odio, as est mihi in odio ‘it is to me hateful,’ whence inodio was at length taken as sb. ‘hatred, dislike, annoyance’: see Diez and Littré. The n was subsequently doubled in Fr. and Eng. by form-assoc. with compounds like en-noble, an-nounce; the aphet. form noi, NOY (cf. noisome) helping in Eng. to encourage an erroneous analysis of the word as a-noy, whence an-noy. ENNOY, after Fr., is occasional in 15–16th c. Now mostly poetic, ANNOYANCE being the common prose equivalent.)]

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  1.  A mental state akin to pain arising from the involuntary reception of impressions, or subjection to circumstances, which one dislikes; disturbed or ruffled feeling; discomfort, vexation, trouble. In earlier times often = mod.Fr. ennui; in later usage expressing more active feeling of discomfort.

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c. 1230.  Ancr. R., 374. Þe þridde bitternesse is ine longunge touward heouene, & in þe anui of þisse worlde.

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c. 1300.  Beket, 1618. Ich have ibeo in anuy.

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1388.  Wyclif, Ps. cxix. 28. Mi soule nappide for anoye [1611 melteth for heauiness].

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1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 104/3. And deyed in grete myserye of Annoye.

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1534.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), E e. They haue … greate annoy of theyr heyres.

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1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. VI. 17. The lad n’ould after joy; But pynd away in anguish and selfe-wild annoy.

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1675.  T. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 147. His cross our comfort; his annoy our endless joy.

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1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 1111. After past annoy To take the good Vicissitude of joy.

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1812.  W. Taylor, in Month. Rev., LXVII. 143. His ennui amounted to annoy.

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1870.  Emerson, Soc. & Solit., xi. 243. He had better … have been defeated, than give her a moment’s annoy.

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1872.  Blackie, Lays of Highl., 121. A student toiling with annoy Through long dry tomes.

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  b.  phr. To work (do obs.) annoy: to cause discomfort or trouble, to molest. arch.

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a. 1420.  Occleve, De Reg. Princ., 1016. Writyng also dothe grete annoies thre.

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c. 1450.  Merlin, xiii. 191. The heete that dide hem grete anoye.

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1600.  Holland, Livy, XXXII. xxi. 822. The Romane navie by sea shall … do us all annoy.

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1768.  Beattie, Minstr., II. xxxvii. Ere victory and empire wrought annoy.

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1813.  Byron, Br. Abydos, I. v. Much I misdoubt this wayward boy Wili one day work me more annoy.

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  2.  That which causes the above feeling; a troubling thing, circumstance or action; annoyance.

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c. 1305.  E. E. Poems (1862), 97. Ech man þat haueþ mone In enie neode oþer anuy.

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1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 16. Auenturis that thaim befell, And gret anoyis.

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1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 239. [In the triumph] þis onnuy he hadde: a cherle was wiþ hym in his chare.

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1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 156. Good Angels guard thee from the Boares annoy.

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1624.  Wotton, Arch. (1672), 42. The benefit of removing such annoies out of sight.

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1827.  Keble, Chr. Year, 3rd S. Trin. A newborn soul … yet wrapt in earth’s annoy.

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