Infest

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfɛst/

Definitions of infest

verb to inhabit or overrun in numbers large enough to be harmful or unpleasant

Example Sentences

A1 The house was infested with ants.

A2 The campsite was infested with mosquitoes.

B1 The old building was infested with rats.

B2 The garden was infested with weeds.

C1 The computer system was infested with viruses.

C2 The city was infested with crime.

Examples of infest in a Sentence

formal The building was infested with termites, causing extensive damage to the structure.

informal I heard that the old house down the street is infested with rats.

slang Dude, that place is totally infested with bugs. It's gross.

figurative Negative thoughts can infest your mind if you don't actively work to combat them.

Grammatical Forms of infest

• past tense: infested
• plural: infests
• comparative: more infested
• superlative: most infested
• present tense: infests
• future tense: will infest
• perfect tense: has infested
• continuous tense: is infesting
• singular: infests
• positive degree: infest
• infinitive: infest
• gerund: infesting
• participle: infested

Origin and Evolution of infest

First Known Use: 1400 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'infest' originated from the Latin word 'infestare', which means to attack or harass.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'infest' has retained its original meaning of being overrun or harassed by pests or enemies, but it has also been extended to describe a situation where something undesirable or harmful pervades a place or group.