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molest

[muh-lest]
verb (used with object)
  1. to bother, interfere with, or annoy.
  2. to make indecent sexual advances to.
  3. to assault sexually.
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Origin of molest

1325–75; Middle English molesten < Latin molestāre to irk, derivative of molestus irksome; compare mōlēs mass, burden, trouble
Related formsmo·les·ta·tion [moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-] /ˌmoʊ lɛˈsteɪ ʃən, ˌmɒl ɛ-/, nounmo·lest·er, nounmo·lest·ful, adjectiveun·mo·lest·ed, adjectiveun·mo·lest·ing, adjective

Synonyms

1. harass, harry, trouble, plague, hector, torment. See attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for molester

molest

verb (tr)
  1. to disturb or annoy by malevolent interference
  2. to accost or attack, esp with the intention of assaulting sexually
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Derived Formsmolestation (ˌməʊlɛˈsteɪʃən), nounmolester, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for molester

n.

1570s, agent noun from molest.

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molest

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper