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Synonyms
molest
- 6 dictionary resultsmo⋅lest
[muh-lest] 
–verb (used with object)
| 1. | to bother, interfere with, or annoy. |
| 2. | to make indecent sexual advances to. |
| 3. | to assault sexually. |
Origin:
1325–75; ME molesten < L molestāre to irk, deriv. of molestus irksome; cf. mōlēs mass, burden, trouble
1325–75; ME molesten < L molestāre to irk, deriv. of molestus irksome; cf. mōlēs mass, burden, trouble
Related forms:
mo⋅les⋅ta⋅tion [moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-] , noun
[moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-] , noun mo⋅lest⋅er, noun
mo⋅lest⋅ful, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To molest
| mo·lest (mə-lěst') tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests
[Middle English molesten, from Old French molester, from Latin molestāre, from molestus, troublesome.] mo'les·ta'tion (mō'lě-stā'shən) n., mo·lest'er n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Molest
Mo*lest"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Molested; p. pr. & vb. n. Molesting.] [F. molester, L. molestare, fr. molestus troublesome, fr. moles a heavy mass, load, burden. See 3d Mole.] To trouble; to disturb; to render uneasy; to interfere with; to vex. They have molested the church with needless opposition. --Hooker. Syn: To trouble; disturb; incommode; inconvenience; annoy; vex; tease.Molest
Mo*lest"\, n. Molestation. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : molest
Spanish:
fastidiar, molestar,
German:
belästigen,
Japanese:
じゃまする
molest
c.1374, "to cause trouble, grief, or vexation," from O.Fr. molester (12c.), from L. molestare "to disturb, trouble, annoy," from molestus "troublesome," perhaps related to moles "mass" (see mole (3)) on notion of either "burden" or "barrier." Meaning "sexually assault" first attested 1950. Molestation meant "the harassing of a person in his possession or occupation of lands" in Scot. law from 1456; in Eng. common law it came to mean "injury inflicted upon another."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: mo·lest
Pronunciation: m&-'lest
Function: transitive verb
1 : to annoy, disturb, or persecute esp. with hostile intent or injurious effect
2 : to make annoying sexual advances to; specifically : to force physical and usually sexual contact on (as a child) —mo·les·ta·tion /"mO-"les-'tA-sh&n, "mä-, -l&s-/ noun —mo·lest·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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