Emily Dickinson Lexicon

vex (vext), v. [OFr < L. vexāre, to shake, agitate, disturb.] (webplay: life, little, pain, people).

1. Stifle; dampen; deaden; interfere with; [fig.] end; halt; block; destroy.
2. Annoy; bother; trouble; tease; [fig.] cause to burn; turn red from exposure to sunlight.
3. Irritate; upset; worry; cause discomfort for; [fig.] mortify; embarrass.
4. Hurt; wound; plague; injure; cause pain to (see Psalms 6:2); [fig.] infect; cause illness; [metaphor] kill; cause death.