infestare

to attack, disturb

1 / 1

A close view of an open kitchen drawer overrun with cockroaches: many crawl among clean cutlery, across the drawer edges, and out of a dark rear crevice.

noun

infestation

in-feh-STAY-shun/ˌɪnfeˈsteɪʃn/

The presence of pests in damaging numbers.

Etymology

infestLatinto attack, disturb

+ationLatinan action, process, or result

The underlying verb meant to attack or trouble. Its later sense of swarming over something or attacking parasitically connects that hostile activity with the presence of unwanted pests.

Full entry

Related word entries

infestation