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

But Harriet Dyer strolls through the sliding doors like she’s walking into another shift at work as the soothing automated voice directs harried visitors trying to get their driver’s licenses or transfer car titles.

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In the latter, another youngster emerges from a chaotic throng of people, standing apart from the hubbub while carrying a stack of books, suggesting that education offered opportunities to escape these harried circumstances.

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“It was such a harried moment,” she finally says.

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Their targets were harried parents stretching their limited funds.

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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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times