molest

[ muh-lest ]
See synonyms for molest on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to make indecent sexual advances to.

  2. to assault sexually.

  1. Older Use. to bother, interfere with, or annoy.

Origin of molest

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English molesten, from Latin molestāre “to irk,” derivative of molestus “irksome”; compare mōlēs “mass, burden, trouble”

synonym study For molest

3. See attack.

Other words for molest

Other words from molest

  • mo·les·ta·tion [moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-], /ˌmoʊ lɛˈsteɪ ʃən, ˌmɒl ɛ-/, noun
  • mo·lest·er, noun
  • mo·lest·ful, adjective
  • un·mo·lest·ed, adjective
  • un·mo·lest·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for molest

molest

/ (məˈlɛst) /


verb(tr)
  1. to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference

  2. to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually

Origin of molest

1
C14: from Latin molestāre to annoy, from molestus troublesome, from mōlēs mass

Derived forms of molest

  • molestation (ˌməʊlɛˈsteɪʃən), noun
  • molester, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012