pestilence
A very dangerous disease that moves quickly through a group of people or animals and kills many of them.
A very serious and often fatal infectious disease that spreads quickly among many people or animals in a particular area.
A very bad thing, like violence or corruption, that grows and spreads through a group or place and hurts many people.
Something, especially a practice, influence, or condition, that spreads widely and causes great harm or moral corruption.
An old word that in history books can mean the bubonic plague, the very deadly disease that killed many people in Europe long ago.
An old term used especially in historical texts to refer specifically to the bubonic plague, particularly the outbreaks in medieval and early modern Europe.
- Base: pestilence
- Plural: pestilence, pestilences
plague, pestilence, and famine
1plague, deadly disease, and famine
A literary phrase that lists three terrible troubles: plague, other deadly diseases, and serious lack of food.
- The novel opens with a description of a land torn by plague, pestilence, and famine.
- Old prophecies spoke of plague, pestilence, and famine sweeping the earth.
war, famine, and pestilence
1war, famine, and deadly disease
A set phrase that names three very bad things that can happen to people: war, lack of food, and deadly disease.
- The historian writes that the kingdom was ruined by war, famine, and pestilence.
- In the old sermon, the preacher warned that war, famine, and pestilence were signs of judgement.