I.troublesome, irksome, grievous, annoying (class.; cf. “importunus): abscede hinc, molestus ne sis!” Plaut. As. 2, 4, 63: “provincia,” Cic. Mur. 8, 18: “operosus ac molestus labor,” id. N. D. 2, 23, 39: “alicui odiosum et molestum esse,” id. Sen. 14, 47: “tu autem, nisi molestum est, paulisper exsurge,” if it will not incommode you, id. Clu. 60, 168: “nihil erit his laboriosius molestiusque provinciae?” id. Leg. 3, 8, 19: “arrogantia ingenii atque eloquentiae est multo molestissima,” id. Div. in Caecil. 11, 36: tunica, a dress of pitch, in which a malefactor was burned (tunicam alimentis ignium et illitam et intextam, Sen. Ep. 14, 5), Juv. 8, 235; Mart. 10, 25, 5.—
B. In partic., of speech, labored, affected: “simplex in agendo veritas non molesta,” Cic. Brut. 30, 116: “verba,” Ov. A. A. 1, 464: “pronuntiatio gesticulationibus,” Quint. 11, 3, 183: “dialectos,” Suet. Tib. 56.—
II. Transf.
A. That is done with difficulty, difficult (post-class.): “molesta separatio,” Dig. 9, 2, 27, § 14.—*
1. With trouble or difficulty (class.): “moleste fero,” I take it ill, it vexes, annoys me, Cic. Att. 13, 22, 4: “molestissime fero, quod, etc.,” id. Fam. 3, 6, 5: “molestius ferre,” id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 1, § 2: “fero,” I lament, Sen. Ep. 67, 13.—
2. In a troublesome or offensive manner; of speech, in a labored manner, affectedly: “mimice ac moleste,” Cat. 42, 8: scribere, August. ap. Suet. Aug. 86: “moleste uti distinctionibus,” Quint. 11, 3, 181.
