I. ˈpestə(r) transitive verb
( pestered ; pestered ; pestering -st(ə)riŋ ; pesters )
Etymology: modification of Middle French empestrer to hobble (an animal), impede, embarrass, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin impastoriare to hobble (an animal), from Latin in- in- (II) + (assumed) Vulgar Latin pastoria, n., hobble, from Latin, feminine of pastorius of or belonging to a herdsman, from Latin pastor herdsman, shepherd + -ius -ious — more at pastor
1. obsolete
a. : obstruct , impede
seeing him pestered in a narrow passage — Henry Holcroft
b. : encumber , overburden
shall not pester my account … with descriptions of places — Daniel Defoe
c. : to crowd together
men … confined and pestered in this pinfold — John Milton
2.
[influenced in meaning by pest ]
archaic : infest
is rich and fertile but pestered with green adders — Jedidiah Morse
3.
[influenced in meaning by pest ]
: to harass with petty and repeated irritations : annoy , bother , vex
pestered him … so that he could not keep his mind on reading — Jean Stafford
would pester people with irritating questions — Elsa Maxwell
Synonyms: see worry
II. noun
( -s )
: one that obstructs, encumbers, or annoys