plague

plague
I. noun Etymology: Middle English plage, from Late Latin plaga, from Latin, blow; akin to Latin plangere to strike — more at plaint Date: 14th century 1. a. a disastrous evil or affliction ; calamity b. a destructively numerous influx <
a plague of locusts
>
2. a. an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality ; pestilence b. a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms — called also black death 3. a. a cause of irritation ; nuisance b. a sudden unwelcome outbreak <
a plague of burglaries
>
II. transitive verb (plagued; plaguing) Date: 15th century 1. to smite, infest, or afflict with or as if with disease, calamity, or natural evil 2. a. to cause worry or distress to ; hamper, burden b. to disturb or annoy persistently Synonyms: see worryplaguer noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Plague — may refer to:In medicine: * Plague (disease), a specific disease caused by Yersinia pestis . There are three major manifestations ** Bubonic plague ** Septicemic plague ** Pneumonic plague * Any bubo causing disease * A pandemic caused by such a… …   Wikipedia

  • Plague — Plague, n. [L. plaga a blow, stroke, plague; akin to Gr. ?, fr. ? to strike; cf. L. plangere to strike, beat. Cf. {Plaint}.] 1. That which smites, wounds, or troubles; a blow; a calamity; any afflictive evil or torment; a great trail or vexation …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plague — [plāg] n. [ME plage < MFr < L plaga, a blow, misfortune, in LL(Ec), plague < Gr plēgē, plaga < IE * plaga, a blow < base * plag , to strike > FLAW2] 1. anything that afflicts or troubles; calamity; scourge 2. any contagious… …   English World dictionary

  • Plague — Plague, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plagued}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plaguing}.] 1. To infest or afflict with disease, calamity, or natural evil of any kind. [1913 Webster] Thus were they plagued And worn with famine. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Fig.: To vex;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plague — plague; plague·some; pseu·do·plague; …   English syllables

  • plague — [n1] disease that is widespread affliction, contagion, curse, epidemic, hydra, infection, infestation, influenza, invasion, outbreak, pandemic, pestilence, rash, ravage, scourge; concept 306 plague [n2] annoyance, curse affliction, aggravation,… …   New thesaurus

  • plague — I verb afflict, aggravate, aggrieve, annoy, badger, bait, bedevil, beset, bother, browbeat, bullyrag, cross, devil, discommode, discompose, displease, disquiet, distress, disturb, exagitare, exasperate, exercere, fret, gall, gibe, grate, harry,… …   Law dictionary

  • plague — vb pester, tease, tantalize, harry, harass, *worry, annoy Analogous words: gall, fret, chafe (see ABRADE): *bait, badger, hector, hound, ride: torment, *afflict, try Contrasted words: *relieve, mitigate, lighten, assuage, alleviate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • plague — ► NOUN 1) a contagious disease spread by bacteria and characterized by fever and delirium. 2) an unusually and unpleasantly large quantity of insects or animals. ► VERB (plagues, plagued, plaguing) 1) cause continual trouble or distress to. 2) …   English terms dictionary

  • plague — plaguer, n. /playg/, n., v., plagued, plaguing. n. 1. an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence. 2. an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration,… …   Universalium

  • Plague — The plague is an infectious disease due to a bacteria called Yersinia pestis. Y. pestis mainly infects rats and other rodents. Rodents are the prime reservoir for the bacteria. Fleas function as the prime vectors carrying the bacteria from one… …   Medical dictionary

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