INFEST

infest, overrun

(verb) invade in great numbers; “the roaches infested our kitchen”

infest

(verb) live on or in a host, as of parasites

invade, overrun, infest

(verb) occupy in large numbers or live on a host; “the Kudzu plant infests much of the South and is spreading to the North”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

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; to plague, harass.

(pathology, of a parasite) To invade a host plant or animal.

Synonyms

• beride, plague

Adjective

infest (comparative more infest, superlative most infest)

(obsolete) Mischievous; hurtful; harassing.

Noun

infest (uncountable)

(obsolete) Hostility.

Anagrams

• feints, finest, stefin

Source: Wiktionary

In*fest", a. Etym: [L. infestus. See Infest, v. t.]

Definition: Mischievous; hurtful; harassing. [Obs.] Spenser.

In*fest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infested; p. pr. & vb. n. Infesting.] Etym: [L. infestare, fr. infestus disturbed, hostile, troublesome; in in, against + the root of defendere: cf. F. infester. See Defend.]

Definition: 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 infest the day, Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, And as silently steal away. Longfellow.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition