pestilence

UK /ˈpɛstələn(t)s/ US /ˈpɛstələn(t)s/

noun 2name 1

Definitions

noun

Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.

1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XVII, Chapter iii, leaf 347r and hit was in the realme of Logrys and soo bifelle grete pestylence & grete harme to both Realmes "And it was in the realm of Logris; and so befell great pestilence and great harm to both realms."

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Anything harmful to morals or public order.

name

The personification of pestilence, often depicted riding a white horse.

Collocations

VERB + PESTILENCE

allowed, hidden

PESTILENCE + NOUN

enemy, famine, home, shalt, thou, walketh

PREP.

between, from, in, off, with

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of

canker

noun — any epidemic disease with a high death rate

noun — a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Y

plague
pest
pestis

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book XVII, Chapter iii, leaf 347r and hit was in the realme of Logrys and soo bifelle grete pestylence & grete harme to both Realmes "And it was in the realm of

Wiktionary

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Wiktionary

"Take it, Christian dogsǃ take the palaces, the gardens, the mosques, the abode of our fathers - take plague with them; pestilence is the enemy we fly; if she be your friend, hug her to your bosoms. T

Wiktionary

There is one rule that works in every calamity. Be it pestilence, war, or famine, the rich get richer and poor get poorer. The poor even help arrange it.

Tatoeba · #425401

"Let the minutes show that Mary, the cat, the dog and the hidden pestilence in this home have all attended the family meeting," said Tom.

Tatoeba · #6611049

For now I will stretch out my hand to strike thee, and thy people, with pestilence, and thou shalt perish from the earth.

Tatoeba · #7992858

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, pestilence is marked as archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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