Definition of plague

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< plagiotropism

plaguy >

plague    (plg) KEY 

NOUN:

1. A widespread affliction or calamity, especially one seen as divine retribution.
2. A sudden destructive influx or injurious outbreak: a plague of locusts; a plague of accidents.
3. A cause of annoyance; a nuisance: "the plague of social jabbering" (George Santayana).
4. 1. A highly infectious, usually fatal, epidemic disease; a pestilence.
   2. A highly fatal infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Yersinia (syn. Pasturella ) pestis, is transmitted primarily by the bite of a rat flea, and occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
plagued, plagu·ing, plagues

1. To pester or annoy persistently or incessantly. See Synonyms at harass.
2. To afflict with or as if with a disease or calamity: "Runaway inflation further plagued the wage- or salary-earner" (Edwin O. Reischauer).

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English plage, blow, calamity, plague, from Late Latin plga, from Latin, blow, wound; see plk-² in Indo-European roots. V., Middle English plaghen from Middle Dutch, from plaghe, plague, from Late Latin plga

OTHER FORMS:
plaguer(Noun)