Pestilence
WordNet

noun


(1)   A pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
"Racism is a pestilence at the heart of the nation"
"According to him, I was the canker in their midst"
(2)   Any epidemic disease with a high death rate
(3)   A serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
WiktionaryText

Etymology


< < < < ; see pestilent.

Noun



  1. Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.
    • 1949 - Bruce Kiskaddon, George R. Stewart Earth Abides
      The snowshoe-rabbits build up through the years until they reach a climax when the seem to be everywhere; then with dramatic suddenness their pestilence falls upon them.
 
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