annoyance
(əˈnɔɪəns)
Also 4–6 anoyaunce, (anoysaunce), 4–7 anoyance, (6 innoyaunce), 6–7 anoiance.
[a. OFr. anuiance, anoiance, f. anuiant pr. pple. of anuyer: see prec. and -ance.]
1. The action of annoying, vexing, troubling, molesting, or injuring; molestation.
| c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. 972 Nat to the anoyance [v.r. anoyaunce, -saunce, annoyance] of any man or womman. 1509 Fisher Wks. (1876) 304 [The risen body] shall perce thorowe the stone walles, without ony anoyance of them. 1605 Shakes. Macb. v. i. 84 Looke after her, Remoue from her the meanes of all annoyance. 1789 G. White Selborne xxi. (1853) 88 To secure these nests from the annoyance of sheperd boys. 1850–62 Merivale Rom. Emp. V. xlii. 34 [Germanicus] having thus crippled their means of annoyance, returned to the Rhine. |
2. The state of feeling caused by what annoys; disturbance by what one dislikes; dislike, disgust, vexation, trouble.
| 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.) i. vii. (1506) 54 Hauynge synne in hate, in anoyaunce. 1643 Milton Divorce i. x. (1847) 134/1 The annoyance and trouble of mind [will] infuse itself into all the faculties..of the body. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 20 ¶2 He..stands upon a Hassock..to the great Annoyance of the devoutest Part of the Auditory. a 1716 South (J.) The greatest annoyance and disturbance of mankind has been from one of those two things, force or fraud. 1872 Black Adv. Phaeton xix. 270 She is put to the annoyance of refusing one of them. |
3. Anything annoying or causing trouble, a nuisance. Jury of Annoyance: one appointed to report upon public nuisances.
| 1502 Arnold Chron. 83 The corupte sauours and lothsom innoyaunces caused by slaughter of bestes within the cyte. 1622 Callis Stat. Sewers (1824) 211 Casting dirt, sand, ballast, or other annoyance, into the rivers or streams. 1663 Gerbier Counsel E vj a, The Kitchens may be..at hand; and yet not be an anoyance. 1754 Act 29 Geo. II, xxv. §12 The Jury of Annoyance..shall..enquire into..all bad pavements and all annoyances, obstructions and encroachments, upon any of the public ways. 1859 Mrs. Schimmel-Penninck Princ. Beauty i. xi. §34 An intrusive annoyance, like a succession of trifling visitors when we need to be alone. |