Plague

Pronunciation

• enPR: plāg, IPA: /pleɪɡ/
• Rhymes: -eɪɡ

Origin

From Middle English plage, from Old French plage, from Late Latin plāga ("blow, wound"), from plangō ("to strike"). Cognate with Middle Dutch plāghe (>

Dutch plaag), plāghen (>

Dutch plagen), Middle Low German plāge, pflāge, vlāge, Middle High German plāge (>

German Plage), plāgen (>

German plagen), Swedish plåga, French plaie.

Full definition of plague

Noun

1. (often used with the, sometimes capitalized: the Plague) The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.
2. (pathology) An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.
3. A widespread affliction, calamity or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.Ten Biblical plagues over Egypt, ranging from locusts to the death of the crown prince, finally forced Pharaoh to let Moses's people go.
4. A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritatesBart is an utter plague; his pranks never cease.

Synonyms

• pest

Derived terms

• plaguesome
• plaguey

Verb

1. (transitive) To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.Wikis are often plagued by vandalism
2. (transitive) To afflict with a disease or other calamity.''Natural catastrophies plagued the colonists till they abandoned the pestilent marshland

Derived terms

• plaguer