harry

¹

[har-ee]

verb (used with object)

harried, harrying 

1. to harass, agitate, or trouble by or as if by repeated attacks; beleaguer.

   He was harried by constant doubts.

   Synonyms: trouble, plague, molest

2. to ravage, as in war; devastate.

   The troops harried the countryside.

   Synonyms: pillage, rob, strip, plunder

verb (used without object)

harried, harrying 

1. to make harassing incursions.

Harry

²

[har-ee]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Harold or Henry.

harry

/ ˈhærɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to harass; worry

2. to ravage (a town, etc), esp in war

Word History and Origins

Origin of harry¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English herien, Old English her(g)ian (derivative of here “army”); cognate with German verheeren, Old Norse herja “to harry, lay waste”

Word History and Origins

Origin of harry¹

Old English hergian; related to here army, Old Norse herja to lay waste, Old High German heriōn

Example Sentences

Their targets were harried parents stretching their limited funds.

From Salon

For a decade, we were harried Los Angeles co-parents, entwined by conversations involving camp sign-ups, parent/teacher conferences, pediatrician appointments, dividing spring break weeks and the antidotes of two troublesome felines.

From Los Angeles Times

To hear business leaders tell it, their customers are frustrated: Instead of the human touch, patients get nothing at all, stymied by long wait times and harried, disempowered workers.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s already harried by trying to accomplish this enormous task while grieving at the same time, and a dog the size of a PT Cruiser isn’t helping that stress one bit.

From Salon

“Snow White,” for instance, is coming at a time when many children will be on spring break, which means harried parents may be looking for things for their kids to do.

From Los Angeles Times