peeved

The word 'peeved' originates from the early 20th-century verb 'peeve', which is a back-formation from the noun 'peevish'. 'Peevish' itself entered Middle English from the late 14th century, meaning 'perverse, refractory', and is of uncertain origin. It may be derived from a blend of Latin 'perversus' (perverse) or from an imitative root suggesting a whining sound. The modern sense of 'peeved' as mildly annoyed or irritated evolved from this earlier notion of being in a bad-tempered or fretful state, capturing a sense of petty vexation.

The word 'peeved' is a simplex form derived from the verb 'peeve'. It is not productively segmented into smaller meaningful units in modern English.