molest
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle English molesten, from Old French molester, from Latin molestō (“to trouble, annoy, molest”), from molestus (“troublesome”), from moles (“a burden, difficulty, labor, trouble”); see mole.
PronunciationEdit
VerbEdit
molest (third-person singular simple present molests, present participle molesting, simple past and past participle molested)
- To annoy intentionally.
- To disturb or tamper with.
- 1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie
- They have molested the church with needless opposition.
- 2020, Chief Executive in Council, “Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation”, in Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Gazette[1], page B555:
- A person must not delay, obstruct, hinder or molest an authorized officer who is performing a function under this Regulation.
- 1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie
- To sexually assault or sexually harass (a minor).
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
to annoy intentionally
to disturb or tamper with
to abuse
Further readingEdit
- molest in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- molest in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
AnagramsEdit
IndonesianEdit
EtymologyEdit
Unadapted borrowing from Dutch molest.
NounEdit
molest
Further readingEdit
- “molest” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) Daring, Jakarta: Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia, 2016.