Sekirov Dictionary

plague

/pleɪɡ/

noun 5
verb 2
forms 3
phrases 1

noun5

a deadly disease that reaches people from rats and spreads quickly from place to place
•
An epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence, but especially that caused by the above disease.
- Great plagues, such as the bubonic plague or smallpox or syphilis or influenza, can happen again. — 2006
•
A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.
- Ten Biblical plagues over Egypt, ranging from locusts to the death of the crown prince, finally forced Pharaoh to let Moses's people go.
•
(figurative) A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.
- Bart is an utter plague; his pranks never cease.
•
A group of common grackles (a blackbird), especially when flocking to e.g. parking lots at night.
- A plague of grackles hang out on wires on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 in Houston. — 2024

verb2

•
To harass, pester or annoy someone persistently or incessantly.
- Dame Gill did grin, As she went in, And Jill was plagu'd by Jack, Will Goat came by, And made Jack cry, And knock'd him on his back. — 1810
•
To afflict with a disease or other calamity.
- Natural catastrophes plagued the colonists till they abandoned the pestilent marshland.
- Falling prices and drought plagued the cattle industry.

forms

plagued · plaguing · plagues

Phrases with plague

be at the plague
To be bothered; to make the effort to do something.

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