fester

[ fes-ter ]
/ ˈfɛs tər /

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to cause to rankle: Malice festered his spirit.

noun

an ulcer; a rankling sore.
a small, purulent, superficial sore.

Origin of fester

1350–1400; (noun) Middle English festir, festre < Anglo-French, Old French festre < Latin fistula fistula (for -l- > -r- cf. chapter); (v.) Middle English festryn, derivative of the noun or < Old French festrir

OTHER WORDS FROM fester

un·fes·tered, adjective un·fes·ter·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for fester

British Dictionary definitions for fester

fester
/ (ˈfɛstə) /

verb

to form or cause to form pus
(intr) to become rotten; decay
to become or cause to become bitter, irritated, etc, esp over a long period of time; rankle resentment festered his imagination
(intr) informal to be idle or inactive

noun

a small ulcer or sore containing pus

Word Origin for fester

C13: from Old French festre suppurating sore, from Latin: fistula

Medical definitions for fester

fester
[ fĕstər ]

v.

To ulcerate.
To form pus; putrefy.

n.

An ulcer.