anger Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
    choler; ire.
  2. noun the state of being angry
    angriness.
  3. noun belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (personified as one of the deadly sins)
    ira; wrath; ire.
  4. verb make angry
    • The news angered him
  5. verb become angry
    see red.
    • He angers easily

WordNet

An"ger noun
Etymology
OE. anger, angre, affliction, anger, fr. Icel. angr affliction, sorrow; akin to Dan. anger regret, Swed. ånger regret, AS. ange oppressed, sad, L. angor a strangling, anguish, angere to strangle, Gr. to strangle, Skr. amhas pain, and to. anguish, anxious, quinsy, and perh. awe, ugly. The word seems to have orig. meant to choke, squeeze. .
Definitions
  1. Trouble; vexation; also, physical pain or smart of a sore, etc. Obs.
    I made the experiment, setting the moxa where . . . the greatest anger and soreness still continued. Temple.
  2. A strong passion or emotion of displeasure or antagonism, excited by a real or supposed injury or insult to one's self or others, or by the intent to do such injury.
    Anger is like A full hot horse, who being allowed his way, Self-mettle tires him. Shak.
    Syn. -- Resentment; wrath; rage; fury; passion; ire gall; choler; indignation; displeasure; vexation; grudge; spleen. -- Anger, Indignation, Resentment, Wrath, Ire, Rage, Fury. Anger is a feeling of keen displeasure (usually with a desire to punish) for what we regard as wrong toward ourselves or others. It may be excessive or misplaced, but is not necessarily criminal. Indignation is a generous outburst of anger in view of things which are indigna, or unworthy to be done, involving what is mean, cruel, flagitious, etc., in character or conduct. Resentment is often a moody feeling, leading one to brood over his supposed personal wrongs with a deep and lasting anger. See Resentment. Wrath and ire (the last poetical) express the feelings of one who is bitterly provoked. Rage is a vehement ebullition of anger; and fury is an excess of rage, amounting almost to madness. Warmth of constitution often gives rise to anger; a high sense of honor creates indignation at crime; a man of quick sensibilities is apt to cherish resentment; the wrath and ire of men are often connected with a haughty and vindictive spirit; rage and fury are distempers of the soul to be regarded only with abhorrence.
An"ger transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Icel. angra.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Angered present participle & verbal noun Angering
Definitions
  1. To make painful; to cause to smart; to inflame. Obs.
    He . . . angereth malign ulcers. Bacon.
  2. To excite to anger; to enrage; to provoke.
    Taxes and impositions . . . which rather angered than grieved the people. Clarendon.

Webster 1913