Constantly annoyed or pestered someone repeatedly about something they weren't doing or weren't doing right.
From Old Norse 'gnaga' meaning 'to gnaw or bite.' The word evolved in Middle English to mean persistent complaining, as if words were gnawing at someone repeatedly.
Nagging is one of those words that perfectly mimics its own meaning—the hard 'g' sounds feel repetitive and irritating, just like the behavior itself. It's a great example of how language sounds can match what they describe!
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