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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Molest, v. Also: mollest. P.t. and p.p. molestit, -ed, (melestit); mol(l)est. [ME. (Chaucer) and e.m.E. molest(e, OF. molester (12–13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. molestāre.]

1. tr. To interfere with (a person) injuriously or with hostile intent; to assail or attack; to persecute, pester, badger or harass; to trouble, disturb.Also, to interfere with (a person) in his enjoyment of land, property, rights etc.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 44/22.
At we suld nocht molest nore desaue oure nychtbouris c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxii. 45.
All honest folk they [beggars] do molest, Sa piteuslie thai cry and rame 1513 Doug. xi. xi. 116.
I wald … at … scho … had not hastit … Forto molest the Troianys stowt army 1533 Boece viii. iii 252.
I … sall molest thi celsitude with na thing concernyng the eloquence … of ane oratoure 1534–5 Selkirk B. Ct. 189 (26 Jan.).
At the said Thomas promittit neuer to tribill, molest nor iniur the said Sir Hew for the said bed and pres [given to him] 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 229.
Quhow sone I may hawe [money] of my awyn your grace sall nocht be molestit Ib. 239. 1559 Q. Kennedy in Misc. Wodrow Soc. 267.
I pray ȝour lordschip appardone me that I molest ȝou with sic tryffils c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 353.
It was na laude … to molest sic ane vith crueltie a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxv. 28. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 309.
That … all the subjectis … may frielie … traphick … ontrublit, molestit or impaschit ather in bodie or guids 1590 Edinb. Test. XXI. 224.
To tak cair … that his wyff and bairnes be nocht molestit 1596 Mill Mediæv. Plays 239.
That the scollaris quha hes tane the grammer schole be not molestit or put at afoir Fridaye nixt 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 139/4.
Men are prohibited … from … inuaiding or molesting thaire neichbouris personne or boundis 1596 St. A. Baxter Bks. 59.
Johnne Grig molestit and iniurit Alexander Scharpe be wordis 1599 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 370. 1607 Inverness Rec. II. 57. 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 52.
The keiparis of the portis molestat James Reid and Laurence Walcar 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 218. c1650 Spalding II. 5.
Johne Dvgar agane brak out to truble and molest the contrie 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 214.
The counsell vnderstanding that not onlie this coast but also this burgh and harbour … might possiblie be invadeit and molestit be the Hollanders 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 10.(2) 1442 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 307.
That na man … tak on hande til molest inquiet distroubil or entermet wyth the castele … of Dalketh the tenandis or inhabitantis thairoff 1470 Reg. Panmure II. 246.
Gif euer it sal happin … the said William … to be molestit inquietit or perturbit … sa that he … may not … brouke the said … landis 1513 Reg. Privy S. I. 380/1. 1515 Ib. 409/2. 1535 Liber Melros 626. 1542 Reg. Privy S. II. 727/2.
[He] is maid almaist unable to ordour his benefice as deuite requiris be resoun of unfreindis that tendis to molest him thairrin 1542 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 181. 1562 Peebles B. Rec. I. 282. 1570 Ib. 320. 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 159. a1578 Pitsc. II. 150/6. 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 10. 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II. 69.
Bayth the parties … to hald thameselffs within thair awin sydis of the said lyne stanes and nawys to truble nor molest others 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 18. 1622-6 Bisset I. 95/19.

2. To cause distress or vexation to, to put to inconvenience, to vex, distress or afflict.(a) 1567 G. Ball. 108.
Na … maledie sall thé molest a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxix. 94. 1586–7 Warrender P. I. 266.
Then wes he [the Dean of Peterborough] villing to silence for ony forder molesting hir [Q. Mary's] mynd c1590 Fowler I. 90/118.
The thoughts that in suche hudge did long my heade molest Ib. 88/64. c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Maiking diuers fumes ascend vnto the heid molesting the animall operationis thairin c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxi. 8.
I sleip nocht so your luif dois me molest ?a1640 Copie of a Baron's Court 30.
That John Davison … He doth molest us more than all the lave(b, c) 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 195.
For the payment of the quhilk sowme the merchantis … ar hevelie vexit, molestit and troublit 1533 Boece ii. ix. 74.
He was now molestit with age, febill & seiklie Ib. v. iv. 172, ix. xiv. 323 b. 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 303.
I am layth your grace suld be melestit with lang writin 1549 Compl. 134/16.
Ȝour gudscheir molestit the pepil vitht intollerabil exactions a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 71.
To the effect the Quein be not molested with importunat solicitations 1686 Cramond Kirk S. II. 29 Aug.
That the north doore … might be closed up, that … the heretors might not be molested by the colde windes that comes in upon them in thair seatts(b) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1165.
Suffer me not Lord mair to be molest a1568 Bann. MS. 244 a/15.
My mind is nocht mollest Bot evirmoir in ioy Ib. 245 a/2.
This hindirnycht bygon, My corps for walking wes molest a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiii. 6.
Sum ar sair drest Sum sair molest Be newe fund lawes c1590 J. Stewart II. 241 § 164.
Sad Sueirnes sat vith crepill feit moiest