# infest

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈfɛst/ · frequency rank #50,592

## Definitions
1. To inhabit a place in unpleasantly large numbers; to plague, harass.
2. To invade a host plant or animal.

## Etymology
From Middle English infesten, from Old French infester (“to infest”), from Latin īnfestō (“assail, molest”, verb), from īnfestus (“hostile”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/infest