Wor"ry (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Worried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Worrying.] [OE. worowen, wirien, to strangle, AS. wyrgan in awyrgan; akin to D. worgen, wurgen, to strangle, OHG. wurgen, G. wurgen, Lith. verszti, and perhaps to E. wring.]
1.
To harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth.
A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death;
That dog that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood.
Shak.
2.
To harass or beset with importunity, or with care an anxiety; to vex; to annoy; to torment; to tease; to fret; to trouble; to plague.
"A church
worried with reformation."
South.
Let them rail,
And worry one another at their pleasure.
Rowe.
Worry him out till he gives consent.
Swift.
3.
To harass with labor; to fatigue.
[Colloq.]
© Webster 1913.
Wor"ry (?), v. i.
To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe; as, the child worries; the horse worries.
© Webster 1913.
Wor"ry, n.; pl. Worries ().
A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety; fret; as, to be in a worry.
"The whir and
worry of spindle and of loom."
Sir T. Browne.
© Webster 1913.