Etymology
From Middle English plage, borrowed from Old French plage, from Latin plÄga (blow, wound), from plangÅ (to strike). Cognate with Middle Dutch plÄghe (Dutch plaag), plÄghen (Dutch plagen); Middle Low German plÄge; Middle High German plÄge, pflÄge (German Plage), plÄgen (German plagen), Swedish plÃ¥ga, French plaie, Occitan plaga. Displaced native Old English wÅl.
Noun
plague (countable and uncountable, plural plagues)
- (often used with the, sometimes capitalized: the Plague) The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.
- (pathology) 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.
- (figurative) A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.
- Bart is an utter plague; his pranks never cease.
- (ornithology) A group of common grackles.
Derived terms
- Black Plague
- bubonic plague
- cattle plague
- fowl plague
- pneumonic plague
Verb
plague (third-person singular simple present plagues, present participle plaguing, simple past and past participle plagued)
- (transitive) To harass, pester, or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
- (transitive) To afflict with a disease or other calamity.
- Natural catastrophes plagued the colonists till they abandoned the pestilent marshland.
Derived terms
- plagued
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors copied and adjusted this Wiktionary entry in accordance with NWE standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit for this article is due to both New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions at Wiktionary is accessible to researchers here:
