pestilence

1 any epidemic disease with a high death rate [syn: plague]

2 a pernicious evil influence

English

Noun

pestilence

1. Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.
   • 1949 - Bruce Kiskaddon, George R. Stewart Earth Abides

     The snowshoe-rabbits build up through the years until they reach a climax when the seem to be everywhere; then with dramatic suddenness their pestilence falls upon them.

Translations

A pestilence is any virulent and highly infectious disease that can cause an epidemic or even a pandemic. The word can also be used about parasites causing large scale sickness and death, such as Guinea worm.

Originally the word referred to the bubonic plague, which is called pestis in Latin.

It can also refer to:

In music

• Pestilence (band), a Dutch death metal band
• "Ride the Wings of Pestilence", a song by From First to Last

In comics

• Pestilence (comics), a Marvel Comics supervillain character in Alpha Flight
• Pestilence (DC Comics), a DC Comics character from 52

See also

• List of historical plagues
• Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

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