?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 117 (MED) Alle siche turnen hem aftir dyuerse stirynges þat bihappeþ to hem..by vnpacience of wrongis þat þei suffren..and oþirwhilis by stirynges and chastisynge or vexynge of goostly enemyes.

c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1927) 280 (MED) Al her punysching and vexing..we wolde wite and aspie wheþer it be þi wille, lord, hem falle into vs or no.

a1500 (?a1390) J. Mirk Festial (Gough) (1905) 281 Þat is of no wexyng of þe fend, but of grace of God.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 284/2 Vexyng or troublyng, conturbation.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Inquietation, a disquieting,..vexing, molesting, troubling.

a1617 S. Hieron Penance for Sinne in Wks. (1620) II. 263 It is a kind of vexing to him, that he cannot master it.

1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. i. i. §2 The first is that which Nazianzen calls..accusations and vexings of a man when he is in misery.

1705 Duke of Marlborough Let. 31 Aug. in H. L. Snyder Marlborough–Godolphin Corr. (1975) I. 480 My vexing has put me so much out of order, that I am obliged to take a vomett this night.

1748 tr. Vegetius Of Distempers Horses iii. lx. 336 The vexing of the Intestine which they call the Colon..is known by the following Signs.

1850 J. Kay Social Condition & Educ. People Eng. & Europe II. xii. 332 He [sc. the teacher]..must prevent tale-telling, teazing, and vexing of one scholar by another.

1875 Index (Boston) 11 Mar. 114/1 It is no logomachy, we assure them—no war of words,..no vexing of the air with aimless blows.

1900 R. MacDonald Sword of King vi. 102 No answer could I get to this for all my vexing of my mind with questions.

1952 R. J. C. Broadhurst tr. Ibn Jubayr Travels 316 In the payment of this tax, the Maghribis are pleasingly reminded of their vexing of the enemy, and thus the payment of it is lightened.

2010 M. Freden Really!?! 271 I will admit to the vexing that art has caused in my life.

?1548 Godlye & Holesome Preseruatyue against Desperation sig. B.ii^v A medicine against synne vexinge and troubelinge.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David (1823) vi. vi The while a swarm of foes with vexing feates My life besitteth.

1599 J. Davies Nosce Teipsum 48 Trembling feare, and vexing griefes annoy.

1645 D. North Forest of Varieties ii. 134 To..make things otherwise of easie resolution anxious, and vexing.

a1684 R. Leighton Pract. Comm. 1st Epist. Peter (1694) II. 456 The burden of vexing carefulness.

1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Vexatiousness, troublesome, perplexing, vexing Quality.

1762 Ld. Kames Elements Crit. II. xviii. 346 From this vexing dilemma, I am happily relieved.

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. vi. 102 I am glad to see that this vexing job has no ta'en awa' your appetite, Captain.

1846 New Englander (New Haven, Connecticut) Oct. 528/2 It is exceedingly vexing to a parent to be called upon for a new book in any department.

1899 F. Norris McTeague ii. 28 But this was only at times—a strange, vexing spasm, that subsided almost immediately.

1910 19th Cent. & After Feb. 279 Let others seek..the games and pleasures which bring with them a thousand vexing cares.

1974 Resident & Staff Physician 20 89/2 A more vexing problem than the dying patient is the vegetablized patient.

2010 J. T. Hughes tr. J. Gotthelf Black Spider 61 ‘Don't be vexing, Vetter,’ said the grandfather.

1599 J. Minsheu Percyvall's Dict. Spanish & Eng. at Agraviadaménte Greeuously, in a chafe, vexingly, molestfully.

1647 J. Caryl Expos. 8th, 9th & 10th Bks. Job 353 This they did so vexingly, that they are said to wrest his words.

1656 A. Cowley Davideis iv. 125 in Poems At Courts, and Seats of Justice to complain, Was to be robb'd more vexingly again.

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 269. ⁋5 It is the same poverty which makes men speak or write smuttily, that forces them to talk vexingly.

1876 Dundee Courier & Argus 26 Apr. 3/3 I cannot support the proposal of the Lord Advocate to lay upon other shoulders a burden that presses vexingly upon my own.

1991 Times (Nexis) 16 Nov. The roads run arrow-straight, or zigzag vexingly along the lines of drainage dykes.

2015 Guardian (Nexis) 8 Mar. Keys you might find vexingly hidden, Velcro-taped to the underside of a table.