infest

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb invade in great numbers
  2. verb occupy in large numbers or live on a host
  3. verb live on or in a host, as of parasites

Etymology

From Middle English infesten, from Old French infester (“to infest”), from Latin īnfestō (“assail, molest”, verb), from īnfestus (“hostile”), from in + *-festus (“probably seized, handled”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

overrun

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