pester
Americanverb
Other Word Forms
- pesterer noun
- pesteringly adverb
- pestersome adjective
- unpestered adjective
Etymology
Origin of pester
1530–40; perhaps aphetic variant of empester, impester to tangle, encumber (though pester is found earlier than these 2 words) < Middle French empestrer to hobble, entangle < Vulgar Latin *impāstōriāre to hobble, equivalent to im- im- 1 + pāstōri ( a ) a hobble, noun use of Latin pāstōrius of a herdsman or shepherd + -āre infinitive suffix ( pastor ); aphetic form apparently reinforced by pest ( -er 6 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now she endured the indifferent kisses of her grandchildren as if she was being pestered by mosquitoes.
From Literature
I’m going to pester my parents so they’ll take me to see Cleopatra’s Needle when it arrives.
From Literature
Upon their return from Las Vegas, they set out to pester the rating agencies, and the Wall Street people who gamed their models, for more information.
From Literature
He was arrested and later released on bail on condition that he did not harass, pester or intimidate Harshita.
From BBC
She added: "Your constant pestering, badgering and, eventually, attendance at their home address on a dark evening in December was unwarranted."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
