▪ I. inˈfester, n. rare.
[f. infest v.2 + -er1.]
One who, or that which, infests.
| 1791 Cowper Odyss. xxii. 348 The gadfly, infester fell Of beeves. 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 208 Their insect infesters..are confined to the Orders Strepsiptera [etc.]. |
▪ II. † inˈfester, v. Obs. rare.
Also 7 en-.
[f. in-2 + fester v.]
trans. To render (a sore) festered, to cause to rankle. Also fig. Chiefly in in-, enfestered ppl. a., festered, inveterate.
| 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 1193/1 The long coloured peruerse obstinacy, and infestered hatred of this double faced dissembler. 1594 J. Radford Truth in Relig. To Rdr., Olde infestred diseases must be cured with sharpe medicines. 1609 J. Davies Holy Roode (1876) 16 Whiche His enfestered sores exulcerates. 1611 Florio, Inrancorare, to enrancor, to enfester. |