molestation

[moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-]

noun

1. touching a nonconsenting person, especially a child, in a sexual manner.

   He was arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation and child abuse.

2. an act or instance of interference with or violence against someone.

   Under the terms of the citadel’s surrender, the Persians were allowed to pass without molestation through the midst of the Roman army.

Word History and Origins

Origin of molestation¹

First recorded in 1600–10; molest ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Mentioning the accusation of "child molestation" it was written two months after the Boston court hearing, which had indeed concluded without scandal for the Church.

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Court records show that Arca admitted to other special allegations regarding a prior strike conviction for molestation, which contributed to his lengthy sentence.

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A Roman Catholic priest is facing five felony counts of child molestation and was removed from his Downey parish after being arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, records and officials said.

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In addition to charging the Darthards with Justin’s murder, prosecutors have charged the boy’s mother with felony child abuse and child molestation.

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Goularte, 46, still has pending felony child molestation charges, prosecutors said.

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