definitions

pernicious

[ per-nish-uhs ]
/ pərˈnɪʃ əs /
||

adjective

causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings; a pernicious lie.
deadly; fatal: a pernicious disease.
Obsolete. evil; wicked.

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Nearby words

permutation, permutation group, permute, pernambuco, pernancy, pernicious, pernicious anaemia, pernicious anemia, pernicious vomiting, pernickety, pernik

Origin of pernicious

1515–25; < Latin perniciōsus ruinous, equivalent to pernici(ēs) ruin (per- per- + -nici-, combining form of nex death, murder (stem nec-) + -iēs noun suffix) + -ōsus -ous

Related forms

per·ni·cious·ly, adverbper·ni·cious·ness, nounun·per·ni·cious, adjectiveun·per·ni·cious·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perniciously

British Dictionary definitions for perniciously

pernicious

/ (pəˈnɪʃəs) /

adjective

wicked or maliciouspernicious lies
causing grave harm; deadly

Derived Forms

perniciously, adverbperniciousness, noun

Word Origin for pernicious

C16: from Latin perniciōsus, from perniciēs ruin, from per- (intensive) + nex death
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for perniciously

pernicious

[ pər-nĭsh′əs ]

adj.

Tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.