plague

Meanings

Noun

• The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.
• An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.
• A widespread affliction, calamity or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.
• A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.
• Collective noun for

Verb

• To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
• To afflict with a disease or other calamity.

Related

Similar words

• pest, pestilence

Origin

• From Middle English plage, borrowed from Old French plage, from Latin plāga ("blow, wound"), from plangō. Cognate with Middle Dutch plaghe (> Dutch plaag), plaghen (> Dutch plagen); Middle Low German plāge; Middle High German plāge, pflāge (> German Plage); plāgen (> German plagen); Swedish plåga; French plaie, Occitan plaga. plaga. Displaced native Old English wōl.