plaguy

or pla·guey

[ pley-gee ]

/ ˈpleɪ gi /

Chiefly Northern U.S.

adjective

such as to plague, torment, or annoy; vexatious: a plaguy pile of debts.

adverb

vexatiously or excessively: The room is plaguy hot.

Nearby words

plague vaccine, plague, the, plagues of egypt, plaguesome, plaguey, plaguy, plaice, plaid, plaid cymru, plaided, plain

Origin of plaguy

First recorded in 1565–75; plague + -y¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for plaguey

The fact is—well, it's plaguey difficult to tell it shortly—but the fact is I picked up this lady—no, hang it all!
Round the World in Seven Days|Herbert Strang
A hot day and a lobster salad—what happier conjunction can we look for in a plaguey world?
Windfalls|(AKA Alpha of the Plough) Alfred George Gardiner
But it will be plaguey risky for us to attempt to remain in here until the small hours of the morning.
Two Gallant Sons of Devon|Harry Collingwood
I have wife and child, and kith and kin, and a plaguey basket of rotten apples to make cider from.'
The Fifth Queen|Ford Madox Ford

An' I reckon I can row you round an' acrost, 'thout their plaguey ships a-spyin' us.
Philip Winwood|Robert Neilson Stephens

British Dictionary definitions for plaguey

plaguy

plaguey

archaic, informal

adjective

disagreeable or vexing

adverb

disagreeably or annoyingly

Derived Formsplaguily, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for plaguey

plaguey

adj.

1570s, "pertaining to a plague," from plague (n.) + -y (2). Figurative meaning "vexatious" is from 1610s. As an adverb (properly it would be plaguily) it is attested from 1580s, often with deliberate attempt at humor.