Fester means to generate pus or to worsen progressively, potentially becoming more bitter or irritating, derived from the Latin 'fistula' (pipe, ulcer).
Fester means to generate pus or to worsen over time, often becoming more bitter or irritating. It originates from the Latin 'fistula,' meaning pipe or ulcer.
| Word | fester |
|---|---|
| Date | July 27, 2017 |
| Type | verb |
| Syllables | FESS-ter |
| Etymology | Fester entered English in the 14th century. It was used as we now use the word fistula for an abnormal passage leading from an abscess or hollow organ and permitting passage of fluids or secretions. It was also applied as a word for a sore that discharges pus. The connection between fester and fistula is no accident—both descend from Latin fistula, which has the same meaning as the English word but can also mean "pipe" or "tube" or "a kind of ulcer." Fester made the trip from Latin to English by way of Anglo-French. The word's use as a verb meaning "to generate pus" has also developed extended senses implying a worsening state. |
| Examples | "For more than a generation, instead of forging a path to reconciliation, we have allowed the wounds the war inflicted on our nation, our politics and our families to fester." — Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, The New York Times, 29 May 2017 "Tunisians have made tremendous progress. Yet their experiment is teetering on the brink. The economy is stuck in the doldrums. Poverty and corruption fester." — Christian Caryl, The Washington Post, 26 May 2017 |
| Definition | 1 : to generate pus 2 : putrefy, rot 3 a : to cause increasing poisoning, irritation, or bitterness : rankle b : to undergo or exist in a state of progressive deterioration |
Tags: wordoftheday::verb
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