pester
pronunciation
How to pronounce pester in British English:
UK [ˈpestə(r)]
How to pronounce pester in American English:
US [ˈpestər]
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- Verb:
- annoy persistently
Word Origin
- pester (v.)
- 1520s, "to clog, entangle, encumber," probably a shortening of Middle French empestrer "place in an embarrassing situation" (Modern French empêtrer, Walloon epasturer), from Vulgar Latin *impastoriare "to hobble" (an animal), from Latin im- "in" + Medieval Latin pastoria (chorda) "(rope) to hobble an animal," from Latin pastoria, fem. of pastorius "of a herdsman," from pastor "herdsman" (see pastor (n.)). Sense of "annoy, trouble" (1560s) is from influence of pest. Related: Pestered; pestering.
Example
- 1. It is painful to acknowledge , but marketers were right all along : pester power works .
- 2. Marla wouldn 't pester daddy , because he was so sensitive and might have started to cry .
- 3. His firm operates through a network of locals who knock on doors and pester their acquaintances to buy lipstick and shampoo .
- 4. There are e-mails to answer , virtual friends to pester , youtube videos to watch and , back in the physical world , meetings to attend , papers to shuffle and spouses to appease .
- 5. While my mother prepared dinner each night , my brothers and I would pester her .