Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
Something that encourages one to act; a goad, a spur.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To coerce or hurry along, as by persistent request.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To subject to harassment or verbal abuse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To sneak up on or rapidly approach.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To pursue as in a hunt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, transitive
Synonyms: chase, hunt
Antonyms: none provided
verb
annoy continually or chronically
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: harass, hassle, harry, chivy, chevy, chevvy, beset, plague, molest, provoke
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at, irritate, rile, nark, nettle, gravel, vex, chafe, devil
Narrower terms: needle, goad, torment, rag, bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate, haze
History
From chivy, chevy (“to chase; to race, scamper”), from chivy, chevy (“a chase, hunt, pursuit”), probably from the title of The Ballad of Chevy Chase, first published in The Complaynt of Scotland (1549); the ballad is about a hunt taking place on a chase (“large country estate where game may be hunted”) in the Cheviot Hills between Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, and is thought to allude to the Battle of Otterburn in 1388.
Across languages
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
