fester Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a sore that has become inflamed and formed pus
    suppurating sore.
  2. verb ripen and generate pus
    suppurate; maturate.
    • her wounds are festering

WordNet

Fes"ter intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. festern, fr. fester, n.; or fr. OF. festrir, fr. festre, n. See Fester, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Festered ; present participle & verbal noun Festering
Definitions
  1. To generate pus; to become imflamed and suppurate; as, a sore or a wound festers.
    Wounds immedicable Rankle, and fester, and gangrene. Milton.
    Unkindness may give a wound that shall bleed and smart, but it is treachery that makes it fester. South.
    Hatred . . . festered in the hearts of the children of the soil. Macaulay.
  2. To be inflamed; to grow virulent, or malignant; to grow in intensity; to rankle.
Fes`ter transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to fester or rankle.
    For which I burnt in inward, swelt'ring hate, And fstered ranking malice in my breast. Marston.
Fes"ter noun
Etymology
OF. festre, L. fistula a sort of ulcer. Cf. Fistula.
Definitions
  1. A small sore which becomes inflamed and discharge corrupt matter; a pustule.
  2. A festering or rankling.
    The fester of the chain their necks. I. Taylor.

Webster 1913