Episode: Vexatious
Dentist: Mr. Wimbley, it’s been a while. How are you doing?
Wimbley: Oh, I’m on the up and up. How are you Dr. Wellings?
Dentist: Good, good. Kathy tells me you have a vexatious abscess on your 2nd bicuspid. – Kathy, number 20 please.
Wimbley: Is a vexatious abscess worse than a periapical tooth abscess?
Dentist: Haha. No, no. Just adding colorful context to an overwhelminly redundant job. The periapical tooth abscess is because you don’t visit me often enough. It being vexatious is just free marketing for my staff. Haha.
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What does 'vexatious' mean?
Vexatious (adjective):
- Causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry.
- Legal context: Relating to actions brought without sufficient grounds, intended to cause trouble or harassment.
Vexatious isn’t just a great word for Jane Austen fans or legal buffs—it’s also a high-frequency vocabulary word for GRE and SAT prep! In this episode, Jay and Elle delve into its rich history, multifaceted meanings, and why its strong fricative sounds make it so memorable.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• The definition and Latin roots of vexatious.
• Why vexatious is a common GRE and SAT vocabulary word.
• How vexatious is used in legal contexts to describe frivolous lawsuits.
• The root word vex and its connection to annoyance and agitation.
• How suffixes like -tious and -cious intensify meaning in English.
Skit Highlights
• Jay hilariously misuses DIY dental care while Elle adds sharp commentary on vexatious actions.
• A playful exploration of vexatious in the context of annoying situations and legal absurdities.
Listener Challenge
Can you come up with a sentence using vexatious that sounds like it belongs in a Jane Austen novel or on the GRE? Share it on social media using #NerdWordThePodcast!
Links and Resources
• Visit NerdWordThePodcast.com for more vocabulary-packed episodes, GRE prep tips, and exclusive content.
• Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes fun.
Tags
• Word of the Day Podcast
• Vocabulary Podcast
• What Does Vexatious Mean?
• Vexatious GRE Word
• Vexatious Legal Definition
• GRE and SAT Vocabulary Prep
• Annoying Synonyms
• Jane Austen Vocabulary
• Rare and Fun Words
• Educational Podcast
• Edutainment
Vexatious (adjective):
Causing or tending to cause annoyance, frustration, or worry.
- Example: “The constant interruptions were vexatious to her concentration.”
(Legal context) Relating to actions or behaviors brought forward without sufficient grounds, intended to cause trouble or harassment to the defendant.
- Example: “The court dismissed the lawsuit as vexatious litigation.”
Synonyms: annoying, troublesome, irritating, aggravating.
Having Gas At The Dentist [script for "Vexatious"]
** Dental Noises **
DR: Mr. Wimbley, it’s been a while. How are you doing?
MW: Oh, I’m on the up and up. How are you Dr. Wellings?
DR: Good, good. Kathy tells me you have a vexatious abscess on your 2nd bicuspid. – Kathy, number 20 please.
MW: Is a vexatious abscess worse than a periapical tooth abscess?
DR: Haha. No, no. Just adding colorful context to an overwhelminly redundant job. The periapical tooth abscess is because you don’t visit me often enough. It being vexatious is just free marketing for my staff. Haha.
MW: Oh. I suppose that’s better than periodontal.
DR: My my Mr. Wellings. Someone’s been doing their homework. I too would prefer any vexation over a periodontal abscess. You weren’t trying any home remedies again were you?
MW: Well, the pliers wouldn’t fit in my mouth.
DR: Hahaha. Pliers? How much gas did they give you? I’ve missed your sense of humor Mr. Wellings.
MW: I haven’t missed yours.
DR: Most people don’t want to see me. Maybe that’s why dentistry is number two on the career suicide list. But the more regularly you come, the less painful the visit. And I’d prefer to see clean and happy smiles anyways.
MW: Well, as long as you keep the gas coming, I’m good handle this.
DR: I’ll keep the gas coming, that’s for sure. Now sit tight.
(DRILL NOISE)
Here are some fun factoids about the word vexatious:
Rooted in Latin: The word comes from the Latin root vexare, meaning “to shake, jolt, or harass.” This origin conveys the agitating nature of something vexatious.
First Usage: The term vexatious entered the English language around the early 16th century (first recorded use in 1534). It was used in both literal and figurative senses to describe things that annoy or trouble.
Legal Application: Vexatious litigation became a recognized legal term to describe lawsuits that are meant to harass or subdue an adversary. This usage highlights how the word expanded from personal annoyance to institutional trouble.
Poetic Use: Writers and poets from the 16th and 17th centuries loved using vexatious to dramatize situations. It often appeared in works of Shakespeare’s contemporaries to describe tormenting emotions or actions.
Diverse Synonyms: The word has an impressive number of synonyms, each with slight nuances—irksome, galling, provoking, exasperating, and even pesky all fall into its semantic field.
Emotional Impact: Psychologically, “vexation” is one of the milder forms of frustration. It implies annoyance rather than full-blown anger, giving it a specific emotional niche.
Rare Usage Today: Although it remains in use, vexatious is considered somewhat formal or old-fashioned. You’re more likely to hear annoying or irritating in casual conversation.
Perfect for Scrabble: If you’re lucky enough to have the right letters, vexatious is worth a hefty 18 points in Scrabble, not including potential multipliers!
In Pop Culture: The word vex (closely related to vexatious) appears in movies and books to express high drama. A memorable line in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has Captain Jack Sparrow quip, “You vex me!”
Appeals to Word Nerds: People who love wordplay or verbose language often delight in using vexatious for its dramatic flair and multisyllabic elegance.
