v. t. [ OE. irken to tire, become tired; cf. Sw. yrka to urge, enforce, press, or G. ekel disgust, MHG. erklich disgusting; perh. akin to L. urgere to urge, E. urge. ] To weary; to give pain; to annoy. [ 1913 Webster ]

To see this sight, it irks my very soul. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

It irketh him to be here. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Wearisome; tedious; disagreeable or troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition; as, irksome hours; irksome tasks. [ 1913 Webster ]

For not to irksome toil, but to delight,
He made us. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Weary; vexed; uneasy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us therefore learn not to be irksome when God layeth his cross upon us. Latimer.

Syn. -- Wearisome; tedious; tiresome; vexatious; burdensome. -- Irksome, Wearisome, Tedious. These epithets describe things which give pain or disgust. Irksome is applied to something which disgusts by its nature or quality; as, an irksome task. Wearisome denotes that which wearies or wears us out by severe labor; as, wearisome employment. Tedious is applied to something which tires us out by the length of time occupied in its performance; as, a tedious speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wearisome nights are appointed to me. Job vii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pity only on fresh objects stays,
But with the tedious sight of woes decays. Dryden.

-- Irk"some*ly, adv. -- Irk"some*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]