Both Uses of
vex
in
Ulysses, by James Joyce
- Mr Bloom with his stick gently vexed the thick sand at his foot.†
Chpt 13 *vexed = annoyed
- s.d. into the bargain and the greatest danger of all was who you got drunk with though, touching the much vexed question of stimulants, he relished a glass of choice old wine in season as both nourishing and bloodmaking and possessing aperient virtues (notably a good burgundy which he was a staunch believer in) still never beyond a certain point where he invariably drew the line as it simply led to trouble all round to say nothing of your being at the tender mercy of others practically.†
Chpt 16
Definition:
to annoy, worry, or frustrate -- especially by being difficult or persistent