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definitions

molest

[ muh-lest ]
/ məˈlɛst /
||

verb (used with object)

to bother, interfere with, or annoy.
to make indecent sexual advances to.
to assault sexually.

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Nearby words

  1. molecularity,
  2. molecule,
  3. molehill,
  4. moleskin,
  5. moleskins,
  6. molestation,
  7. molester,
  8. molet,
  9. molilalia,
  10. molimen

Origin of molest

1325–75; Middle English molesten < Latin molestāre to irk, derivative of molestus irksome; compare mōlēs mass, burden, trouble
SYNONYMS FOR molest
1. harass, harry, trouble, plague, hector, torment. See attack.
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for molester

  • Often Lamb comes off not as Chester the Molester, but instead as a recognizable and mostly sympathetic character.

    Great Weekend Reads|Malcolm Jones, Lucy Scholes, Jacob Silverman, Drew Toal|September 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
British Dictionary definitions for molester

molest

/ (məˈlɛst) /

verb (tr)

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

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
Word Origin and History for molester
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper