definitions

pestiferous

[ pe-stif-er-uh s ]
/ pɛˈstɪf ər əs /
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adjective

bringing or bearing disease.
pestilential.
pernicious; evil.
Informal. mischievous; troublesome or annoying.

RELATED WORDS

bothersome, contagious, diseased, harmful, infectious, noisome, noxious, pernicious, toxic, unhealthy, virulent, pestilential

Nearby words

pester, pester power, pesthole, pesthouse, pesticide, pestiferous, pestilence, pestilent, pestilential, pestle, pesto

Origin of pestiferous

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin pestiferus plague-bringing, equivalent to pesti- (stem of pestis) pest + -ferus -ferous

Related forms

pes·tif·er·ous·ly, adverbpes·tif·er·ous·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pestiferous

British Dictionary definitions for pestiferous

pestiferous

/ (pɛˈstɪfərəs) /

adjective

informal troublesome; irritating
breeding, carrying, or spreading infectious disease
corrupting; pernicious

Derived Forms

pestiferously, adverbpestiferousness, noun

Word Origin for pestiferous

C16: from Latin pestifer, from pestis contagious disease, pest + ferre to bring
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 pestiferous

pestiferous

[ pĕ-stĭf′ər-əs ]

adj.

Producing or breeding infectious disease.
Infected with or contaminated by an epidemic disease.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.