aggravate

(ăgˈrə-vātˌ)

transitive verb ag·gra·vat·ed, ag·gra·vat·ing, ag·gra·vates

1. To make worse or more troublesome.
2. To rouse to exasperation or anger; provoke. See Synonyms at annoy.

Related Forms:

• agˈgra·vatˌing·ly adverb

• agˈgra·vaˌtive adjective

• agˈgra·vaˌtor noun

Usage Note: Aggravate comes from the Latin verb aggravāre, which meant “to make heavier,” that is, “to add to the weight of.” It also had the extended senses “to annoy” and “to oppress.” Some people claim that aggravate can only mean “to make worse,” and not “to irritate,” on the basis of the word's etymology. But in doing so, they ignore not only an English sense in use since the 17th century, but also one of the original Latin ones. Sixty-eight percent of the Usage Panel approves of its use in It's the endless wait for luggage that aggravates me the most about air travel.