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# vex

verb (vex, vexes, vexed, vexing)

«vex» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To annoy, worry or upset someone, especially about small things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#m1)
2. (formal) To puzzle someone; a "vexed question" is one that is hard to answer and that people argue about. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#m2)

### In the lessons

It is an old-fashioned or written word; in everyday speech people say "annoy" or "bother". You find it in classic stories, the Bible and poems. "Vexed" means annoyed; "vexing" means annoying. "A vexed question" is a hard, much-argued problem. Phrases: "vexed with someone", "a vexed question", "a vexing problem".

### Examples

- The noisy neighbours vexed my grandad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x1)
- She was vexed that her brother had eaten the last biscuit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x2)
- The missing piece of the puzzle vexed us all afternoon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x3)
- Do not vex your mother by being late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x4)
- Climate change is a vexed question that people argue about. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x5)
- It was a vexing problem, but we solved it in the end. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x6)
- The king was vexed when his orders were ignored. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x7)
- "Well, I'm sorry if I've vexed you," said Lionel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: vex, vexes, vexed. The -es ending is because it ends in x. It is an older, more formal word: in a story it often shows the character is cross. "Vexed" is not as strong as "furious".

## In Jewish tradition

It means to trouble, torment or provoke someone. Hannah's rival upsets her, and Delilah pressures Samson.

**Interpretation.** Tradition takes Hannah's bitter prayer as a model of heartfelt prayer, and it sees Samson's weakness as a warning.

### Examples

- How long will ye vex my soul, and crush me with words? (Writings JOB.19.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vex/#x1)
- And her rival vexed her sore, to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. (Prophets 1SA.1.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vex/#x2)
- And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death. (Prophets JDG.16.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vex/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb: vex, vexes, vexed. The -es ending is because it ends in x. It is an older, more formal word: in a story it often shows the character is cross. "Vexed" is not as strong as "furious".

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «vex» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/vex/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«vex» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/vex.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «vex» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vex/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«vex» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/vex.html) on Mova free.