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infest
(in fest′)
transitive verb
- to overrun or inhabit in large numbers, usually so as to be harmful or bothersome; swarm in or over
- to be parasitic in or on (a host)
Origin: Fr infester < L infestare, to attack, trouble < infestus, hostile < in-, in + IE base *dhers-, to be bold, attack > dare
Related Forms:
- infestation noun
- infester noun
See infest in American Heritage Dictionary 4
transitive verb in·fest·ed, in·fest·ing, in·fests
- To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious: rats infesting the sewers; streets that were infested with drugs.
- To live as a parasite in or on: livestock that were infested with tapeworms.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English infesten, to distress
Origin: , from Old French infester
Origin: , from Latin īnfestāre
Origin: , from īnfestus, hostile; see gwhedh- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- inˌfes·taˈtion noun
- in·festˈer noun
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