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 verb 1 a : to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks b : tease
2 a : to harass (as a chained animal) with dogs usually for sport b : to attack by biting and tearing
3 a : to furnish with bait b : entice, lure
4 : to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the roadintransitive verb archaic : 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>.