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baits

2 entries found.

Main Entry:
1bait 
          Listen to the pronunciation of 1bait
Pronunciation:
\ˈbāt\
Function:
verb
Etymology:
Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English ̄tan 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>.
Learn more about "bait" and related topics at Britannica.com


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