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molest (v.)
late 14c., molesten, "to cause trouble, grief, or vexation, disturb, harass," from Old French molester "to torment, trouble, bother" (12c.) and directly from Latin molestare "to disturb, trouble, annoy," from molestus "troublesome, annoying, unmanageable," which is perhaps related to moles "mass" (see mole (n.3)) on notion of either "burden" or "barrier." Meaning "sexually assault" is attested by 1950. Related: Molested; molesting.
updated on February 10, 2019
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Dictionary entries near molest
mole
molecular
molecule
molehill
moleskin
molest
molestation
molester
Moll
mollification
mollified