Worry \Wor"ry\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Worried; p. pr. & vb. n. Worrying.]

[OE. worowen, wirien, to strangle, AS. wyrgan in [=a]wyrgan; akin to D. worgen, wurgen, to strangle, OHG. wurgen, G. w["u]rgen, Lith. verszti, and perhaps to E. wring.]

1. To harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth.

A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death; That dog that had his teeth before his eyes, To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood. --Shak.

2. To harass or beset with importunity, or with care an anxiety; to vex; to annoy; to torment; to tease; to fret; to trouble; to plague. ``A church worried with reformation.'' --South.

Let them rail, And worry one another at their pleasure. --Rowe.

Worry him out till he gives consent. --Swift.

3. To harass with labor; to fatigue. [Colloq.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)