molest

Meanings

1. 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.

2. 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.

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.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images