See Also: pestilence(medicine)
pestilence(dictionary)
pestilence(dictionary)

pestilence (iou)



pestilence noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French from Latin pestilentia, formed as PESTILENT: see -ENCE.]
A fatal epidemic disease affecting people or animals. ME.
b. spec. (Bubonic) plague. LME.
fig. Something morally pernicious; evil conduct, wickedness. Now rare. ME.
A cause of trouble or injury. LME-M16.
Phrases: a pestilence on !, a pestilence upon ! may a plague strike !
Comb.: pestilence-wort the plant butterbur, Petasites hybridus, formerly regarded as a specific against plague.