rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -ation
English

-ation

an action, process, or result

Forms

  • -ation

Origin

Borrowed through French from Latin -atio, the form of an action ending used with many -are verbs.

Note

English speakers later attached this ending to bases that were not themselves Latin verbs.

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noun

molestation

Unwanted interference or disturbance.

The treaty promised travelers passage without molestation.

Etymology
molestLatintrouble, disturb, or annoy
+ationEnglishan action, process, or result

The Latin verb concerns troubling or annoying someone. The noun names such interference, retaining a broader historical meaning than the sexual-abuse sense prevalent today.

More examples

  • The old letter demanded an end to the neighbor’s molestation of the household.
  • The historical order forbade molestation of peaceful residents.
  • They sought protection from further molestation by the patrols.

Forms

molestation

Similar words

harassment
Harassment is repeated unwanted pressure or disturbance; molestation is an older term for interference in this sense.
interference
Interference obstructs or intrudes; molestation adds a sense of troublesome unwanted intrusion.