plague
B2Meanings
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1
noun
an annoyance
those children are a damn plague
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2
noun
a swarm of insects that attack plants
a plague of grasshoppers
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3
noun
a serious, sometimes fatal, infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
Millions of people died in the plague outbreaks of the middle ages.
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4
noun
The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.
It was about the beginning of September, 1664, that I, among the rest of my neighbours, heard in ordinary discourse that the plague was returned again in Holland[…] It mattered not from whence it came; but all agreed it was come into Holland again.
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5
noun
An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but specifically by the above disease.
Great plagues, such as the bubonic plague or smallpox or syphilis or influenza, can happen again.
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6
noun
A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.
Ten Biblical plagues over Egypt, ranging from locusts to the death of the crown prince, finally forced Pharaoh to let Moses's people go.
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7
noun
A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.
Bart is an utter plague; his pranks never cease.
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8
verb
To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
"Moreover," replied Congreve, "it was a sort of flattery to the duke. It showed that she valued the power of plaguing him more than her own fairest ornament. Flattery is the real secret by which a woman keeps her lover."
Etymology
From Middle English plage, borrowed from Old French plage, from Latin plāga (“blow, wound”), from plangō (“to strike”). Cognate with Middle Dutch plāghe (> Dutch plaag), plāghen (> Dutch plagen); Middle Low German plāge; Middle High German plāge, pflāge (> German Plage); plāgen (> German plagen); Swedish plåga; French plaie, Occitan plaga. Doublet of plaga. Displaced native Old English wōl.
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