Word of the Day

: March 5, 2022

fester

verb FESS-ter

What It Means

Fester means "to generate pus" or "to become worse as time passes."

// Without treatment, the wound began to fester.

// The resentment between the knights festered and led to a battle.

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fester in Context

"And even though there are many people who claim to have the solutions, I seriously doubt these challenges will be solved. I predict they will continue to fester within all organizations." — Christopher Thompson, The New Hampshire Union Leader, 24 Jan. 2022

Did You Know?

Fester comes from Latin fistula, meaning "pipe" or "fistulous ulcer." Fistula, in English, refers to an abnormal passage leading from an abscess or hollow organ and permitting passage of fluids or secretions. The word's use as a verb meaning "to generate pus" influenced its use as a word implying a worsening state.