molest
[ muh-lest ]
/ məˈlɛst /
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verb (used with object)
to make indecent sexual advances to.
to assault sexually.
Older Use. to bother, interfere with, or annoy.
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Origin of molest
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 FROM molest
Words nearby molest
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for molest
British Dictionary definitions for molest
molest
/ (məˈlɛst) /
verb (tr)
to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference
to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually
Derived forms of molest
molestation (ˌməʊlɛˈsteɪʃən), nounmolester, nounWord Origin for molest
C14: from Latin molestāre to annoy, from molestus troublesome, from mōlēs mass
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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