Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Infest
In-fest′
,Adj.
Mischievous; hurtful; harassing.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
In-fest′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Infested
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Infesting
.] [L.
infestare
, fr. infestus
disturbed, hostile, troublesome; in
in, against + the root of defendere
: cf. F. infester
. See Defend
.] To trouble greatly by numbers or by frequency of presence; to disturb; to annoy; to frequent and molest or harass;
as, fleas
infest
dogs and cats; a sea infested
with pirates.To poison vermin that
infest
his plants. Cowper.
These, said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, love, with the like cares and passions that
infest
human life. Addison.
And the cares, that
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
infest
the day,Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
Longfellow.
Webster 1828 Edition
Infest
INFEST'
,Verb.
T.
These, said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition,love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life.
Definition 2024
infest
infest
English
Verb
infest (third-person singular simple present infests, present participle infesting, simple past and past participle infested)
- (transitive) To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers
- Insects are infesting my basement!
- (pathology, of a parasite) To invade a host plant or animal
Synonyms
Translations
to inhabit a place in large numbers
|
Adjective
infest (comparative more infest, superlative most infest)
- (obsolete) mischievous; hurtful; harassing
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)