Plague Definition

plāg

plagued, plagues, plaguing

noun

plagues

Any contagious epidemic disease that is deadly; esp., bubonic plague.

Webster's New World

A virulent, infectious disease that is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis (syn. Pasteurella pestis ) and is transmitted primarily by the bite of fleas from an infected rodent, especially a rat. In humans it occurs in bubonic form, marked by lymph node enlargement, and in pneumonic form, marked by infection of the lungs, and can progress to septicemia.

American Heritage Medicine

Anything that afflicts or troubles; calamity; scourge.

Webster's New World

A nuisance; annoyance.

Webster's New World

Any of various calamities sent down as divine punishment: Ex. 9:14, Num. 16:46

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

verb

plagued, plagues, plaguing

To pester or annoy persistently or incessantly.

American Heritage

To afflict with a plague.

Webster's New World

To cause suffering or hardship for.

American Heritage

To vex; harass; trouble; torment.

Webster's New World

To be a widespread or continuous problem or defect in.

Confusing jargon plagues the entire subject.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
please
assist
aid
help

Other Word Forms of Plague

Noun

Singular:

plague

Plural:

plagues

Origin of Plague

From Middle English plage, from Old French plage, from Late Latin plāga (“blow, wound"), from plangō (“to strike"). Cognate with Middle Dutch plāghe (> Dutch plaag), plāghen (> Dutch plagen), Middle Low German plāge, pflāge, vlāge, Middle High German plāge (> German Plage), plāgen (> German plagen), Swedish plÃ¥ga, French plaie.

From Wiktionary
Middle English plage blow, calamity, plague from Late Latin plāga from Latin blow, wound plāk-² in Indo-European roots V., Middle English plaghen from Middle Dutch from plaghe plague from Late Latin plāga

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition