/ məˈlest; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to attack sb, especially a child, sexually
SYN abuse
2.
( old-fashioned ) to attack sb physically
► mo·lest·ation / ˌmɒleˈsteɪʃn; NAmE ˌmoʊ-/ noun [ U ]
► mo·lest·er / məˈlestə(r); NAmE / noun :
a child molester
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense cause trouble to, vex ): from Old French molester or Latin molestare annoy, from molestus troublesome.