molest
[ muh-lest ]
/ məˈlɛst /
verb (used with object)
to bother, interfere with, or annoy.
to make indecent sexual advances to.
to assault sexually.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
fondle, accost, maltreat, rape, injure, tease, frighten, harass, abuse, torment, persecute, scare, terrify, hinder, disturb, intrude, disorganize, displace, hurt, attack
Nearby words
- molecularity,
- molecule,
- molehill,
- moleskin,
- moleskins,
- molestation,
- molester,
- molet,
- molilalia,
- molimen
Origin of molest
1325–75; Middle English molesten < Latin molestāre to irk, derivative of molestus irksome; compare mōlēs mass, burden, trouble
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for molest
Of such as wandering near her secret bower, Molest her ancient solitary reign.
molest
/ (məˈlɛst) /
verb (tr)
to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference
to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually
Word Origin for molest
C14: from Latin molestāre to annoy, from molestus troublesome, from mōlēs mass
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
molest
late 14c., "to cause trouble, grief, or vexation," from Old French molester "to torment, trouble, bother" (12c.) and directly from Latin molestare "to disturb, trouble, annoy," from molestus "troublesome, annoying, unmanageable," perhaps related to moles "mass" (see mole (n.3)) on notion of either "burden" or "barrier." Meaning "sexually assault" first attested 1950. Related: Molested; molesting.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper