Molestation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /mɒlɪˈsteɪʃən/

Definitions

1. Sexual harassment or abuse, typically involving inappropriate or forced contact ; unwanted physical interference, treatment, or disturbance often causing discomfort or harm
2. An act of sexually harassing or abusing someone by inappropriate contact or coercion ; physically bothering or troubling a person in a way they do not consent to
3. The offense of making unwanted sexual advances or subjecting someone to improper touching ; the act of disturbing or interfering with someone physically without permission

Etymology: Molestation descends from Latin "molestare," meaning "to trouble, annoy, or harass," itself from "molestus," which meant "burdensome, troublesome, annoying." The Latin noun "molestatio" carried that sense of harassment or troubling, and it passed into Old French as "molestacion" before reaching English. The word thus began as a general term for being pestered or put upon, long before it narrowed to its present meaning. The verb "molest" entered English earlier than the noun, and it too was used broadly for disturbing, annoying or interfering with someone. Over time, English usage narrowed the sense to sexual harassment or assault, and that specialised meaning now dominates the noun.

Synonyms: harassment, abuse

Antonyms: protection