Fes"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Festered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Festering.] [OE. festern, fr. fester, n.; or fr. OF. festrir, fr. festre, n. See Fester, n.]
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.
© Webster 1913.
Fes`ter, v. t.
To cause to fester or rankle.
For which I burnt in inward, swelt'ring hate,
And fstered ranking malice in my breast.
Marston.
© Webster 1913.
Fes"ter, n. [OF. festre, L. fistula a sort of ulcer. Cf. Fistula.]
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.