▪ I. nagging, vbl. n.
(ˈnægɪŋ)
[f. nag v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb; persistent annoyance, irritation, or fault-finding.
| 1855 Smedley H. Coverdale lix, A process termed in the patois of..kitchens..‘nagging’. 1864 C. M. Yonge Trial vii, His grumbling remarks..too often..were that sort of censure that is expressively called knagging. 1896 Hare Story of my Life I. ii. 167 Fits of naughtiness..caused by the incessant ‘nagging’ I received. |
▪ II. nagging, ppl. a.
(ˈnægɪŋ)
[f. nag v. + -ing2.]
1. Of pain: Gnawing, aching persistently. Also of thirst.
| 1836 Mrs. Sherwood Henry Milner iii. iv, A person enduring a nagging tooth-ache. 1847 Halliwell, Nagging-pain, a slight but constant pain, as the toothache. 1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands vi. 67 He sighed frequently; his nagging thirst got at him again. |
2. a. Persistently annoying by petty fault-finding or irritation.
| 1869 Mrs. Heaton Dürer i. iii. (1881) 61 A nagging tongue in a woman is not of such rare occurrence. 1874 L. Carr Jud. Gwynne I. i. 15 No nagging wife,..no chance of visitors. 1894 J. Knight Garrick xiv. 274 Her letters are..those of a jealous, conceited, nagging woman. |
b. Of the nature or character of nagging.
| 1883 Congregationalist Dec. 1036 A..disposition to a nagging criticism. 1884 Sharman Hist. Swearing iii. 41 They may place nagging obstacles in the way of its career. 1946 W. S. Maugham Then & Now xxviii. 162 He had not the strength to withstand the nagging arguments of the others. 1953 R. Macaulay Let. 11 Aug. (1961) 106, I think nagging doubts..would always from time to time raise their heads and disturb. |
Hence ˈnaggingness.
| 1898 Daily News 9 Nov. 8/4 Your remarks..are not a whit too strong, as her naggingness is becoming unbearable. |