annoy

Where does the word "annoy" come from? It comes from Latin in odio, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Annoy’s story begins in Latin: in odio meant “hateful.” From the phrase 'mihi in odio est', it is hateful to me. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as anuier. Modern French 'ennui', boredom, comes from the same word. It reached English by 1200s as annoy. Was a much stronger word in medieval English, meaning to harm. Today, annoy means to make someone slightly angry.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient in odio "hateful", from the phrase 'mihi in odio est', it is hateful to me.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval anuier "to weary, trouble", modern French 'ennui', boredom, comes from the same word.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s annoy "to irritate", was a much stronger word in medieval English, meaning to harm.