What is "irksomeness"

Irksome \Irk"some\, a.

1. Wearisome; tedious; disagreeable or troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition; as, irksome hours; irksome tasks.

   For not to irksome toil, but to delight, He made us.
   --Milton.

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

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

   Syn: Wearisome; tedious; tiresome; vexatious; burdensome.

   Usage: 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.

   Wearisome nights are appointed to me.
   --Job vii.

3. Pity only on fresh objects stays, But with the tedious sight of woes decays.
   --Dryden. -- Irk"some*ly, adv. -- Irk"some*ness, n.

n. The state of being irksome; vexatiousness; tediousness; wearisomeness.