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molest

 - 4 dictionary results

mo⋅lest

  [muh-lest]
Use molest in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
mo⋅les⋅ta⋅tion  [moh-le-stey-shuhn, mol-e-] , noun
mo⋅lest⋅er, noun
mo⋅lest⋅ful, adjective

Synonyms:
1. harass, harry, trouble, plague, hector, torment. See attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To molest
mo·lest   (mə-lěst')   
tr.v.   mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests

  1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy.

  2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity.


[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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Word Origin & History

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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Legal Dictionary

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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