empest

transitive verb

em·​pest
ə̇m,
em+
-ed/-ing/-s
: to infect with or as if with a contagion
sleeping in an empested atmosphere—Aldous Huxley

Word History

Etymology

en- entry 1 + pest (noun)

First Known Use

circa 1617, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empest was circa 1617

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Dictionary Entries Near empest

empery

empest

Empetraceae

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Empest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empest. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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