bore
Preserved but no longer current.
A troublesome friend or acquaintance, perhaps so called from his unvaried and pertinacious pushing; a nuisance; anything which wearies or annoys. The Gradus ad Cantabrigiam suggests the derivation of BORE from the Greek Βάρος, a burden. Shakspeare uses it, King Henry VIII., i. 1—
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bore” mean?
A troublesome friend or acquaintance, perhaps so called from his unvaried and pertinacious pushing; a nuisance; anything which wearies or annoys. The Gradus ad Cantabrigiam suggests the derivation of BORE from the Greek Βάρος, a burden. Shakspeare uses it, King Henry VIII., i. 1—
Is “bore” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.