Annoys

/əˈnɔɪz/ verb

Definition

To make someone mildly angry or irritated; to bother or pester someone repeatedly.

Etymology

From Old French 'anoier,' possibly from Latin 'in odio' (into hatred). The word entered English in the 1300s meaning 'to cause displeasure.'

Kelly Says

The difference between 'annoys,' 'irritates,' and 'angers' is subtle but real—'annoys' suggests something persistent but mild, while 'angers' suggests serious emotion, showing how English has precise gradations for subtle emotional states.

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