plague en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- [pʰɫ̥ɛːɡ] (US, nonstandard)
- /plɛɡ/ (US, nonstandard)
- /pleɪɡ/
- [pʰl̥eɪɡ]
- plāg
Etymology
From Middle English plage, borrowed from Old French plage, from Latin plāga (“blow, wound”), from plangō (“to strike”). Cognate with Middle Dutch plāghe (> Dutch plaag), plāghen (> Dutch plagen); Middle Low German plāge; Middle High German plāge, pflāge (> German Plage); plāgen (> German plagen); Swedish plåga; French plaie, Occitan plaga. Doublet of plaga. Displaced native Old English wōl.
Meanings
-
(capitalized, countable, often, sometimes, uncountable, used with the) The bubonic plague, the pestilent disease caused by the virulent bacterium Yersinia pestis.
It was about the beginning of September, 1664, that I, among the rest of my neighbours, heard in ordinary discourse that the plague was returned again in Holland[…] It mattered not from whence it came; but all agreed it was come into Holland again.
1722, Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year:
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(countable, uncountable) 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, Irwin W. Sherman, chapter 17, in The Power of Plagues, →ISBN:
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(countable, uncountable) A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution.
A plague a both the Houſes, I am sped: / Is he gone and hath nothing?
c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 64:Ten Biblical plagues over Egypt, ranging from locusts to the death of the crown prince, finally forced Pharaoh to let Moses's people go.
-
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.
Bart is an utter plague; his pranks never cease.
This is the first time a President has attended this dinner in six years. It's understandable- we had a horrible plague, followed by two years of COVID!
2022 April 30, Joe Biden, 0:36 from the start, in President Biden complete remarks at 2022 White House Correspondents' Dinner (C-SPAN), Washington, D.C.: C-SPAN, archived from the original on 01 May 2022:"I'm not doing anything as far as that goes," admitted Tulloch. "In fact," he added ruefully, "that's the plague of it. I'm waiting to hear from a man who's waiting to hear from another man, and he's depending on something that may or mayn't, you understand."
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
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(collective, countable, uncountable) A group of common grackles (a blackbird), especially when flocking to e.g. parking lots at night.
A so-called "plague" of grackles outside the Hancock Center H-E-B.
April 1, 2016, Mose Buchele, Texas Standard:Plague of Grackles Reminiscent of Hitchcock's ‘The Birds'
October 31, 2017, Ben Russell, “Plague of Grackles Reminiscent of Hitchcock's ‘The Birds'”, in NBCDFW:A plague of grackles hang out on wires on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 in Houston.
2024 January 30, Shakari Briggs, “Have you seen big flocks of blackbirds crowd Texas parking lots? Here's why”, in Houston Chronicle:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| plagues | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
plague spot · pig plague · plague cross · antiplague · plaguelike · Pahvant Valley plague · plaguey · superplague · red plague · capacitor plague · cattle plague · fowl plague · plague doctor · bird plague · hog plague · Black Plague · the plague · Australian plague locust · purple plague · gay plague · plaguy · plague rat · plague water · avoid like the plague · be at the plague · plague pit · bubonic plague · white plague · Kansas horse plague · plague-ridden · plagueless · stallion plague · bioplague · plaguesome · Siberian plague · plaguish · plague soldier beetle · nonplague · pneumonic plague · beplague · plague bird · plagueful · plaguer
Synonyms
murrain · pestilence · pest
Translations (244)
de Seuche (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · uk джу́ма (specific disease "the Plague") · ota وبا (specific disease "the Plague") · gd plàigh (specific disease "the Plague") · gd plàigh (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · yi מגפה (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · de Übel (a nuisance) · sh куга (specific disease "the Plague") · fi kulkutauti (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · uz oʻlat (specific disease "the Plague") · bg мор (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · sl kuga (specific disease "the Plague") · he מַגֵּפָה (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ota طاعون (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · uz vabo (specific disease "the Plague") · nl plaag (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · yi פּעסט (specific disease "the Plague") · fo plága (widespread affliction, calamity) · ja 伝染病 (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ca pesta (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · vo tomod (widespread affliction, calamity) · it peste (specific disease "the Plague") · pt peste negra (specific disease "the Plague") · mk напаст (widespread affliction, calamity) · oc pèsta (a nuisance) · pt peste (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ar طَاعُون (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ca plaga (a nuisance) · de Pest (specific disease "the Plague") · bg бедствие (widespread affliction, calamity) · he דֶּבֶר (specific disease "the Plague") · az taun (specific disease "the Plague") · hi ताऊन (specific disease "the Plague") · mk напаст (a nuisance) · hy պատիժ (widespread affliction, calamity) · et katk (widespread affliction, calamity) · fi rutto (specific disease "the Plague") · mk епидемија (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · nl kwelling (a nuisance) · de Plage (a nuisance) · oc plaga (widespread affliction, calamity) · nb pestepidemi (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · km រោគពិស (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · mi urutā (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · uk чума́ (specific disease "the Plague") · az qırğın (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · nb pest (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ro pestă (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · de Quälgeist (a nuisance) · sw tauni (specific disease "the Plague") · th กาฬโรค (specific disease "the Plague") · nb pest (specific disease "the Plague") · km ពិសឆ្លង (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · gl a peste (specific disease "the Plague") · mi mate urutā (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · fr peste (specific disease "the Plague") · fa مرگامرگ (specific disease "the Plague") · ky чума (specific disease "the Plague") · la clades (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · it piaga (a nuisance) · gd plàigh (a nuisance) · izh cuma (specific disease "the Plague") · el πανούκλα (specific disease "the Plague") · uz chuma (specific disease "the Plague") · tg вабо (specific disease "the Plague") · es plaga (specific disease "the Plague") · ru беда́ (widespread affliction, calamity) · cmn 瘟疫 (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · cy plag (specific disease "the Plague") · ug ۋابا (specific disease "the Plague") · ar طَاعُون (specific disease "the Plague") · nn pest (specific disease "the Plague") · is plága (specific disease "the Plague") · ja 伝染 (widespread affliction, calamity) · fa طاعون (specific disease "the Plague") · cmn 鼠疫 (specific disease "the Plague") · et katk (specific disease "the Plague") · hu pestis (specific disease "the Plague") · fo pest (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ru мор (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · fo svartideyði (specific disease "the Plague") · hu csapás (widespread affliction, calamity) · ang wōl (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · vi dịch hạch (specific disease "the Plague") · ja ペスト (specific disease "the Plague") · mk помор (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ca plaga (widespread affliction, calamity) · tl salot (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · pl mangina (widespread affliction, calamity) · sh kuga (specific disease "the Plague") · hy դժվախտություն (widespread affliction, calamity) · grc λοιμός (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · oc pèsta (specific disease "the Plague") · tt чума (specific disease "the Plague") · es plaga (a nuisance) · fr peste (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · cs mor (specific disease "the Plague") · nrf mouôthinne (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · eu izurrite (widespread affliction, calamity) · bn প্লেগ (specific disease "the Plague") · gl praga (a nuisance) · ota طاعون (specific disease "the Plague") · lt maras (specific disease "the Plague") · ga plá (widespread affliction, calamity) · cmn 疫癘 /疫疠 (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · mk беда (widespread affliction, calamity) · eo pesto (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ota چوما (specific disease "the Plague") · cy pla (a nuisance) · ga plá (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ru бич (widespread affliction, calamity) · fr calamité (widespread affliction, calamity) · la luēs (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ca pesta (specific disease "the Plague") · lv sērga (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · hy ժանտամահ (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · grc μάστιξ (widespread affliction, calamity) · ka ჭირი (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ka შავი ჭირი (specific disease "the Plague") · sv pest (specific disease "the Plague") · it pestilenza (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · nl pest (specific disease "the Plague") · fo plága (a nuisance) · ota یومروجق (specific disease "the Plague") · ja 厄介 (a nuisance) · fr calamité (a nuisance) · ru пове́трие (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · hit 𒄭𒅔𒃷 (specific disease "the Plague") · eo bubona pesto (specific disease "the Plague") · mn тахал (specific disease "the Plague") · ug چۇما (specific disease "the Plague") · sq murtajë (specific disease "the Plague") · mn тахал (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ur طاعون (specific disease "the Plague") · el λοιμός (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · be мор (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · da pest (specific disease "the Plague") · ka ჟამი (specific disease "the Plague") · tr veba (specific disease "the Plague") · uz toun (specific disease "the Plague") · oc pèsta (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · gl praga (widespread affliction, calamity) · da plage (widespread affliction, calamity) · be чума́ (specific disease "the Plague") · pt praga (widespread affliction, calamity) · pt incômodo (a nuisance) · cy pla (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · pt incómodo (a nuisance) · hu járvány (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · nl pest (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ang wōl (widespread affliction, calamity) · pl plaga (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · is plága (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ja 黒死病 (specific disease "the Plague") · lv mēris (specific disease "the Plague") · ja 悩みの種 (a nuisance) · ru чума́ (specific disease "the Plague") · ru чума́ (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · fi riesa (a nuisance) · hi प्लेग (specific disease "the Plague") · fa بلا (widespread affliction, calamity) · es peste (specific disease "the Plague") · el πανώλη (specific disease "the Plague") · pt praga (specific disease "the Plague") · uk мір (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · pt praga (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · fo pestur (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · pt peste bubónica (specific disease "the Plague") · ro pestă (specific disease "the Plague") · fr fléau (widespread affliction, calamity) · sk mor (specific disease "the Plague") · ru казнь (widespread affliction, calamity) · cy plag (a nuisance) · ru напа́сть (widespread affliction, calamity) · fi vitsaus (widespread affliction, calamity) · la pestis (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · el μάστιγα (widespread affliction, calamity) · ru наше́ствие (widespread affliction, calamity) · nn pestepidemi (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ja 疫病 (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · it piaga (widespread affliction, calamity) · cy pla du (specific disease "the Plague") · pt peste (a nuisance) · ota خستهلق (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · kk оба (specific disease "the Plague") · nb farsott (widespread affliction, calamity) · el πανδημία (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · el επιδημία (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · es plaga (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · sh epidemija (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · uk чума́ (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · de Plage (widespread affliction, calamity) · km ប៉េស្ត (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · oc pèsta (widespread affliction, calamity) · de Geißel (widespread affliction, calamity) · tg тоун (specific disease "the Plague") · vi đại dịch (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · nn pest (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · vi bệnh dịch (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ko 페스트 (specific disease "the Plague") · pt peste (widespread affliction, calamity) · ca plaga (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ru бе́дствие (widespread affliction, calamity) · ru эпиде́мия (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · ro ciumă (specific disease "the Plague") · fr plaie (widespread affliction, calamity) · mk мор (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · gl a praga (specific disease "the Plague") · ja 疫癘 (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · mk чума (specific disease "the Plague") · el πληγή (widespread affliction, calamity) · ga plá (specific disease "the Plague") · hy աղետ (widespread affliction, calamity) · eo plago (widespread affliction, calamity) · ja 感染症 (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · de Plage (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · he מַכָּה (widespread affliction, calamity) · cy haint y nodau (specific disease "the Plague") · ro ciumă (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · pt peste bubônica (specific disease "the Plague") · it calamità (widespread affliction, calamity) · et rändtaud (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · da pestilens (widespread affliction, calamity) · hy պատուհաս (widespread affliction, calamity) · pl dżuma (specific disease "the Plague") · ja 大量発生 (widespread affliction, calamity) · nl plaag (widespread affliction, calamity) · fr plaie (a nuisance) · oc plaga (a nuisance) · bg неприятност (a nuisance) · nl pest (widespread affliction, calamity) · nl ellende (a nuisance) · tk gyrgyn (specific disease "the Plague") · cy plag (widespread affliction, calamity) · gl praga (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · pt peste (specific disease "the Plague") · ga plá (a nuisance) · bg чума (specific disease "the Plague") · hy ժանտախտ (specific disease "the Plague") · pms pest (specific disease "the Plague") · hy ժանտախտ (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · nl pest (a nuisance) · uk мертвя́чка (an epidemic or pandemic caused by any pestilence) · lb Pescht (specific disease "the Plague")