Meanings
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1
verb
sensitive: to touch or assault someone sexually without consent, especially a child
The safeguarding course explains how to report anyone who attempts to molest a child.
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2
verb
formal and now uncommon: to harass, attack, or interfere with a person or animal
The old ordinance warned visitors not to molest nesting birds.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English molesten and Old French molester, from Latin molestare 'to trouble', based on molestus 'troublesome or burdensome', related to moles 'burden'. The sexual-assault sense became dominant in modern English.