Literary notes about molest (AI summary)
The word "molest" in literature is often used to convey the idea of unwanted physical or metaphorical disturbance. In older texts, such as religious writings, it takes on a moral tone, warning against afflicting or mistreating a stranger or the vulnerable ([1], [2], [3]). Meanwhile, in narrative fiction and historical accounts, it is employed to describe both overt intrusions—like breaking into a home or disturbing peace ([4], [5], [6])—and more subtle forms of interference that disrupt comfort or social order ([7], [8], [9]). Additionally, authors sometimes harness its archaic flavor to lend a sense of gravity and formality to interpersonal interactions or legal contexts ([10], [11], [12]).
- Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - light that should not hurt or molest them; but that should be an agreeable guest to them.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Thou shalt not molest a stranger, for you know the hearts of strangers: for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - “Who are you, I'd like to know, to break into a house in this fashion and molest honest, law-abiding men?”
— from The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle - “Unfortunately,” said Villefort, “there are the treaties of 1814, and we cannot molest Napoleon without breaking those compacts.”
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - Up to this time we had met with no hostile Indians, or, at least, none that attempted to molest us.
— from The Indian Captive A narrative of the adventures and sufferings of Matthew Brayton in his thirty-four years of captivity among the Indians of north-western America by Matthew Brayton - To what a degree does this ridiculous diversion molest the soul, when all her faculties are summoned together upon this trivial account!
— from Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Complete by Michel de Montaigne - Yet when Jonah fairly takes out his purse, prudent suspicions still molest the Captain.
— from Moby Dick; Or, The Whale by Herman Melville - God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares, And not molest us, unless we our selves Seek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine.
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton - "But I have promised not to molest Jinjur," objected Glinda.
— from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum - neither;) let not Saturn nor his ill aspect molest the ascendent.
— from The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper - 5. Gallī molestē ferēbant Rōmānōs agrōs vastāre.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
