pestilence
[ pes-tl-uhns ]
/ ˈpɛs tl əns /
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noun
a deadly or virulent epidemic disease.
something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of pestilence
OTHER WORDS FROM pestilence
an·ti·pes·ti·lence, adjectiveWords nearby pestilence
pester power, pesthole, pesthouse, pesticide, pestiferous, pestilence, pestilent, pestilential, pestle, pesto, pesty
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for pestilence
British Dictionary definitions for pestilence
pestilence
/ (ˈpɛstɪləns) /
noun
- any epidemic outbreak of a deadly and highly infectious disease, such as the plague
- such a disease
an evil influence or idea
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
Medical definitions for pestilence
pestilence
[ pĕs′tə-ləns ]
n.
A usually fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
An epidemic of such a disease.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.