- Main Entry:
- 1bait
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈbāt\
- Function:
- verb
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait, bītan to bite — more at bite
- Date:
- 13th century
transitive verb1 a: to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks b: tease2 a: to harass (as a chained animal) with dogs usually for sport b: to attack by biting and tearing3 a: to furnish with bait b: entice, lure4: to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the roadintransitive verbarchaic : to stop for food and rest when traveling
— bait·er noun
synonyms bait,
badger,
heckle,
hector,
chivy,
hound mean to harass by efforts to break down.
bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim
<baited the chained dog>.
badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy
<badgered her father for a car>.
heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker
<drunks heckled the stand-up comic>.
hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering
<football players hectored by their coach>.
chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging
<chivied the new student mercilessly>.
hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing
<hounded by creditors>.
