Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IRK, v.t. [urk; Scot. irk, to weary; irk, indolent. Lye suggests that this may be from Sax. weorce, work, which signifies also pain, or anxiety; but it seems more probably to be connected with Sax. earg, slothful, lazy, Gr. αργος.]

To weary; to give pain to; used only impersonally; as, it irketh me, it gives me uneasiness. It is nearly obsolete. Shak.