An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/ärgern

by Friedrich Kluge

ärgern, ‘to annoy, vex, fret,’ from MidHG. ergern, ‘to incite to evil, deteriorate, corrupt,’ OHG. ergirôn, argirôn, ‘to make worse,’ from the comparative of arg. From this ModHG. Ärger, m., is formed (comp. Aussatz from aussätzig, Geiz from geizen, Handel from handeln, Opfer from opfern); in MidHG. erge, OHG. argî, f., ‘malice.’ — ärgern, vb., see arg.