bait

bait vb Bait, badger, heckle, hector, chivy, hound, ride mean to persist in tormenting or harassing another.

Bait derives its implications from its basic reference to the action of dogs set on to bite and worry an animal (as a chained bear, boar, or bull). Both in this and in extended use it suggests wanton cruelty or malicious delight in persecution

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the diversion of baiting an author has the sanction of all ages— Johnson

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Badger is more specific than bait. Basically it suggests the baiting of a badger that has been trapped in a hole or barrel and can neither escape nor adequately defend itself from attack; in reference to persons it implies pestering or persecuting that drives the victim into a hopelessly confused or frenzied state of mind

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badger a witness being cross-examined

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the mill foreman so taunted the workers, so badgered them and told them that they dared not quit— Sinclair Lewis

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Heckle implies persistent questioning of a speaker (as a candidate for election, a legislator discussing a bill before the house, or a person advocating or condemning a movement or cause) and an attempt to bring out his weaknesses or to destroy the effect of his argument. It suggests an intent to harass and confuse a speaker by frequent interruptions and by inconvenient or embarrassing questions

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the advocates of any unpopular cause must learn to endure heckling

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infuriates some of his fellow Justices by heckling lawyers who appear before the Court— Sat. Review

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Hector always carries a suggestion of bullying and implies a spirit-breaking scolding or maddeningly domineering treatment

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we are . . . not to be hectored, and bullied, and beat into compliance— Fielding

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they had hard times when they were little . . . and were hectored and worried when they ought to have been taking some comfort— Stowey Chiv

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and hound both stress relentless chasing and pursuing.

Chivy, however, often also suggests teasing or annoying past the endurance of the victim

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having seen two successive wives of the delicate poet chivied and worried into their graves— Conrad

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Hound implies persistent and long-continued persecution till the tormentor's end is achieved or the victim acknowledges himself defeated

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he was hounded by reporters until he made his stand known

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grandfather had been hounded out of his congregation because he couldn't hold her to their standards of behavior for a minister's wife— Mary Austin

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Ride implies persistent goading or spurring (as by unfair criticism, ridicule, or onerous impositions)

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a hard taskmaster rides those who serve him

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he was ridden so hard by the coach that he was no longer fit to remain on the team

}

Analogous words: *worry, annoy, harass, harry: torment, rack, torture, try, *afflict

bait n *lure, snare, trap, decoy

Analogous words: allurement, attraction (see corresponding verbs at ATTRACT): enticement, temptation (see corresponding verbs at LURE)