Chapter Teamed to Tedium of T by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Syn. — To vex; harass: annoy; disturb; irritate; plague; torment; mortify; tantalize; chagrin. — Tease, Vex. To tease is literally to pull or scratch, and implies a prolonged annoyance in respect to little things, which is often more irritating, and harder to bear, than severe pain. Vex meant originally to seize and bear away hither and thither, and hence, to disturb; as, to vex the ocean with storms. This sense of the term now rarely occurs; but vex is still a stronger word than tease, denoting the disturbance or anger created by minor provocations, losses, disappointments, etc. We are teased by the buzzing of a fly in our eyes; we are vexed by the carelessness or stupidity of our servants.

Not by the force of carnal reason,
But indefatigable teasing.

Hudibras.

In disappointments, where the affections have been strongly placed, and the expectations sanguine, particularly where the agency of others is concerned, sorrow may degenerate into vexation and chagrin.

Cogan.

Tease tenon (Joinery), a long tenon at the top of a post to receive two beams crossing each other one above the other.

Tease
(Tease) n. One who teases or plagues. [Colloq.]

Teasel
(Tea"sel) n. [OE. tesel, AS. tsel, tsl, the fuller's herb. See Tease.] [Written also tassel, tazel, teasle, teazel, and teazle.]

1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Dipsacus, of which one species (D. fullonum) bears a large flower head covered with stiff, prickly, hooked bracts. This flower head, when dried, is used for raising a nap on woolen cloth.

Small teasel is Dipsacus pilosus, wild teasel is D. sylvestris.

2. A bur of this plant.

3. Any contrivance intended as a substitute for teasels in dressing cloth.

Teasel frame, a frame or set of iron bars in which teasel heads are fixed for raising the nap on woolen cloth.

Teasel
(Tea"sel), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Teaseled or Teaselled; p. pr. & vb. n. Teaseling or Teaselling.] To subject, as woolen cloth, to the action of teasels, or any substitute for them which has an effect to raise a nap.

Teaseler
(Tea"sel*er) n. One who uses teasels for raising a nap on cloth. [Written also teaseller, teasler.]

Teaseling
(Tea"sel*ing), n. The cutting and gathering of teasels; the use of teasels. [Written also teaselling, teazling.]

Teaser
(Teas"er) n.

1. One who teases or vexes.

2. (Zoöl.) A jager gull. [Prov. Eng.]

Teasle
(Tea"sle) n. & v. t. See Teasel.

Teaspoon
(Tea"spoon`) n. A small spoon used in stirring and sipping tea, coffee, etc., and for other purposes.