Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A usually fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
- n. A pernicious, evil influence or agent.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The disease called the plague or pest; also, any epidemic malignant disease.
- n. That which is pestilential or pestiferous; that which produces or tends to produce malignant disease.
- n. That which is morally pestilent; that which is mischievous, noxious, or malignant in any respect.
Wiktionary
- n. Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Specifically, the disease known as the plague; hence, any contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating.
- n. Fig.: That which is pestilent, noxious, or pernicious to the moral character of great numbers.
WordNet 3.0
- n. 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
- n. a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of
- n. any epidemic disease with a high death rate
Examples
“So the Lord ... sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it -- The infliction only of the pestilence is here noticed, without any account of its duration or its ravages, while a minute description is given of the visible appearance and menacing attitude of the destroying angel.”
“I was much struck too with the dirtiness of the people of Palmyra, which dirtiness results in pestilence, ophthalmia, and plagues of flies.”
“The men disdainfully repelled the idea of having deserted the defence of their city; and one, the youngest among them, in answer to the taunt of a sailor, exclaimed, Take it, Christian dogs! 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.”
“To the three great judgments of war, famine, and pestilence, is here added the beasts of the earth, another of God's sore judgments, mentioned Ezek. xiv.”
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation)
“The pestilence is God's messenger; this he sent among them, with directions whom to strike dead, and it was done.”
“Don’t forget food shortages, more disease and pestilence is also being predicted due to higher temperatures caused by global warming/climate change.”
“I’m glad the pestilence is fleeing the household. dorothy Said,”
“Wait until only the wealthy will be the only ones able to afford food which will become expensive due to it being scarce due to the increase of burnt out crops and rise in pestilence.”
Think Progress » Global warming is a ‘nightmare’ for coffee.
“We have a bad joke about Tabasco, we call it pestilence.”
“A pestilence is a medical physical disease that medical science cannot stop.”
Lists
‘pestilence’ hasn't been added to any lists yet.
seanahan The WordNet definition lists 3 senses, the above, "any epidemic disease with a high death rate", and "a pernicious and malign influence that is hard to get rid of". The second is what you are referring to. The third is the metaphorical sense. Jan 5, 2008
bilby What kind of apocalyptic weekend are you planning, SoG? Jan 5, 2008
sonofgroucho The WordNet definition refers specifically to plague. Surely pestilence is a more general term? Jan 5, 2008