nuisance
UK: ˈnjuːsəns | US: ˈnuːsəns
n. a person, thing, or situation causing inconvenience, annoyance, or discomfort
n. (law) an act or activity that interferes with the use or enjoyment of property
nuisance = nuis<harm> + ance<noun suffix>
- nuis (from Old French nuire, "to harm" < Latin nocēre, "to injure")
- ance (noun-forming suffix indicating state or quality, from Latin -antia)
Etymology Origin:
The word "nuisance" traces back to the Latin verb nocēre ("to harm"), which evolved into Old French nuire. Combined with the suffix -ance (denoting a state or action), it formed nuisance in Middle English (14th century). Originally legal terminology, it described actions infringing on property rights, later broadening to general annoyance. The morphemes reflect a clear cause-effect logic: harm + state = a state of harm.
The noisy construction next door has become a real nuisance.
Mosquitoes are a nuisance during summer evenings.
Parking in front of the driveway is a public nuisance.
She complained about the nuisance of spam emails.
The lawsuit accused the factory of creating a nuisance with its pollution.