Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Harass \Har"ass\, n.
   1. Devastation; waste. [Obs.] --Milton.

   2. Worry; harassment. [R.] --Byron.

Harass \Har"ass\ (h[a^]r"as), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Harassed}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Harassing}.] [F. harasser; cf. OF. harace a
   basket made of cords, harace, harasse,a very heavy and large
   shield; or harer to set (a dog) on.]
   To fatigue; to tire with repeated and exhausting efforts;
   esp., to weary by importunity, teasing, or fretting; to cause
   to endure excessive burdens or anxieties; -- sometimes
   followed by out.

         [Troops] harassed with a long and wearisome march.
                                                  --Bacon.

         Nature oppressed and harass'd out with care. --Addison.

         Vext with lawyers and harass'd with debt. --Tennyson.

   Syn: To weary; jade; tire; perplex; distress; tease; worry;
        disquiet; chafe; gall; annoy; irritate; plague; vex;
        molest; trouble; disturb; torment.

Source : WordNet®

harass
     v 1: annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his
          staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his
          female co-workers" [syn: {hassle}, {harry}, {chivy}, {chivvy},
           {chevy}, {chevvy}, {beset}, {plague}, {molest}, {provoke}]
     2: exhaust by attacking repeatedly; "harass the enemy"