harass
/həˈræs/
verb
Origin
Old French
harer — to set a dog on (game or person)
Overview
Meaning Now
- To subject to aggressive pressure or intimidation.
- To make repeated small-scale attacks against an enemy.
Literal older meaning
Originally related to setting a dog upon someone.
Language path
Old French → Middle French → English
Earliest form
harasser
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term stems from the command 'harer' used by hunters to incite hounds during a chase. By the 17th century, the term had transitioned from a specific hunting command to a general metaphor for persistent annoyance or military agitation.
Evolution
- Frankish
harr
“cry to incite a dog”
- Old French
harer
“to set a dog on”
- Middle French
harasser
“to vex, tease, or worry”
- Early Modern English
harass
“to worry, trouble, or weary”
Introduced in the early 17th century
Connections
Word parts
harass
root
to pester or vex
Related across languages
French
harasser
to exhaust or wear out
Explore next
Related to harass
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.