Har"ass (hăr"as), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harassed (-ast); p. pr. & vb. n. Harassing.] [F. harasser; cf. OF. harace a basket made of cords, harace, harasse,a very heavy and large shield; or harer to set (a dog) on.] To fatigue; to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts; esp., to weary by importunity, teasing, or fretting; to cause to endure excessive burdens or anxieties; -- sometimes followed by out.

[Troops] harassed with a long and wearisome march.

Nature oppressed and harass'd out with care.

Vext with lawyers and harass'd with debt.

Syn. -- To weary; jade; tire; perplex; distress; tease; worry; disquiet; chafe; gall; annoy; irritate; plague; vex; molest; trouble; disturb; torment.

Har"ass, n. 1. Devastation; waste. [Obs.] Milton.

2. Worry; harassment. [R.] Byron.

• To fatigue or to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts
  
• To annoy endlessly or systematically; to molest
  
• to put excessive burdens upon; to subject to anxieties
       
• Nazis and their sympathizers harassed Jews and Gypsies in the early 1940's.