v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Worried p. pr. & vb. n. Worrying. ] [ OE. worowen, wirien, to strangle, AS. wyrgan in āwyrgan; akin to D. worgen, wurgen, to strangle, OHG. wurgen, G. würgen, Lith. verszti, and perhaps to E. wring. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To harass by pursuit and barking; to attack repeatedly; also, to tear or mangle with the teeth. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let them rail,
And worry one another at their pleasure. Rowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Worry him out till he gives consent. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To harass with labor; to fatigue. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To feel or express undue care and anxiety; to manifest disquietude or pain; to be fretful; to chafe; as, the child worries; the horse worries. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Worries A state of undue solicitude; a state of disturbance from care and anxiety; vexation; anxiety; fret; as, to be in a worry. “The whir and worry of spindle and of loom.” Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a worrying manner. [ 1913 Webster ]