pestilential

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English

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Etymology

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From Latin pestilentialis, from pestilentia.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˌpɛstɪˈlɛnʃi.əl/, /ˌpɛstɪˈlɛnʃəl/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Adjective

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pestilential (comparative more pestilential, superlative most pestilential)

  1. Of or relating to pestilence or plague.
    1. Producing, spreading, promoting or infected with pestilence; causing infection. (of people, animals, places or substances)
      Synonym: pestiferous
    2. Spreading in the manner of pestilence. (of illnesses)
    3. Caused by pestilence. (of symptoms)
      pestilential fever; pestilential sweating
      • 1752, George Berkeley, “An Essay towards Preventing the Ruin of Great-Britain”, in A Miscellany, Containing Several Tracts on Various Subjects[6], London: J. and R. Tonson and S. Draper, page 40:
        The Scab, the Stench, and the Burning are terrible pestilential Symptoms,
    4. During which pestilence spreads. (of a period of time)
      • 1651, John Milton, The Life and Reigne of King Charls[7], London: W. Reybold, page 9:
        Now this pestilentiall Summer being well spent, upon the approach of the Winter, and decrease of the Sicknesse, the King [] drawes nearer to the City of London,
      • 1665, John Quarles, The Citizens Flight with Their Re-call[8], London, page 4:
        They must expect more Pestilential times,
        That lives in th’ Equinoctial of their Crimes;
  2. (figurative) Having a harmful moral effect (especially one that is believed to spread in the manner of pestilence).
    Synonym: pernicious
  3. (figurative) Causing irritation or annoyance.
    Synonyms: annoying, irritating, pestiferous, pestilent, troublesome, vexatious

Derived terms

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Old French

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Adjective

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pestilential m (oblique and nominative feminine singular pestilentiale)

  1. pestilent; pestilential