Also 4–6 anoyaunce, (anoysaunce), 4–7 anoyance, (6 innoyaunce), 6–7 anoiance. [a. OFr. anuiance, anoiance, f. anuiant pr. pple. of anuyer: see prec. and -ANCE.]
1. The action of annoying, vexing, troubling, molesting or injuring; molestation.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., 972. Nat to the anoyance [v.r. anoyaunce, -saunce, annoyance] of any man or womman.
1509. Fisher, Wks. (1876), 304. [The risen body] shall perce thorowe the stone walles, without ony anoyance of them.
1605. Shaks., Macb., V. i. 84. Looke after her, Remoue from her the meanes of all annoyance.
1789. G. White, Selborne, xxi. (1853), 88. To secure these nests from the annoyance of sheperd boys.
1850–62. Merivale, Rom. Emp., V. xlii. 34. [Germanicus] having thus crippled their means of annoyance, returned to the Rhine.
2. The state of feeling caused by what annoys; disturbance by what one dislikes; dislike, disgust, vexation, trouble.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.), I. vii. (1506), 54. Hauynge synne in hate, in anoyaunce.
1643. Milton, Divorce, I. x. (1847), 134/1. The annoyance and trouble of mind [will] infuse itself into all the faculties … of the body.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 20, ¶ 2. He … stands upon a Hassock … to the great Annoyance of the devoutest Part of the Auditory.
1688. South, Serm. (1727), I. 460 (J.). The greatest Annoyance and Disturbance of Mankind, has been from one of these two things, Force or Fraud.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xix. 270. She is put to the annoyance of refusing one of them.
3. Anything annoying or causing trouble, a nuisance. Jury of Annoyance: one appointed to report upon public nuisances.
1502. Arnold, Chron., 83. The corupte sauours and lothsom innoyaunces caused by slaughter of bestes within the cyte.
1622. Callis, Stat. Sewers (1824), 211. Casting dirt, sand, ballast, or other annoyance, into the rivers or streams.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, E vj a. The Kitchens may be … at hand; and yet not be an anoyance.
1754. Act 29 Geo. II., xxv. § 12. The Jury of Annoyance … shall … enquire into … all bad pavements and all annoyances, obstructions and encroachments, upon any of the public ways.
1859. Mrs. Schimmelpenninck, Pric. Beauty, I. xi. § 34. 112. Misapply the Cultured phase of Beauty, and it becomes an intrusive annoyance, like a succession of trifling visitors when we need to be alone.
