pestilence

American  

[pes-tl-uhns] / ˈpɛs tl əns /

noun

1. a deadly or virulent epidemic disease.

2. bubonic plague.

3. something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil.

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pestilence British  

/ ˈpɛstɪləns /

noun

1. 1. any epidemic outbreak of a deadly and highly infectious disease, such as the plague

   2. such a disease

2. an evil influence or idea

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Other Word Forms

• antipestilence
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pestilence

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pestilentia, from pestilent-, stem of pestilēns “unhealthy, noxious” ( see pestilent) + -ia -y ³ ( def. )

Explanation

Pestilence means a deadly and overwhelming disease that affects an entire community. The Black Plague, a disease that killed over thirty percent of Europe's population, was certainly a pestilence. Pestilence is also one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation (which is part of The Bible). When pestilence rides into town, you want to be somewhere far, far away. Whereas a person gets the flu, a nation experiences a pestilence. A disease that causes widespread crop damage or animal deaths can also be called a pestilence.

Example Sentences

The U. S. has no Oberammergau, nestling among mountains and presenting every decade a Passion Play to commemorate its deliverance from pestilence.*

From Time Magazine Archive

“Good day, Mrs. Cook. It is a pleasure to see you survived the terrible pestilence. Why don’t go we inside where you’ll be more comfortable?”

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

In one case, where he is represented with a ram on his shoulder, the legend explained that by carrying a ram round the walls he saved the city of Tanagra from a pestilence.**

From Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2) by Lang, Andrew