Persistently bothering, annoying, or troubling someone, often in a threatening or aggressive way. It means to subject someone to unwanted attention or behavior.
From French 'harasser,' possibly from Old French 'harer' meaning 'to set a dog on.' The word entered English in the 17th century and developed stronger legal connotations in the modern era.
Harassment as a legal concept is actually quite modern—the word didn't get serious legal weight until the late 20th century, but it's now a crucial framework protecting people in workplaces, schools, and online.
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