pestilent etymology

Etymology:

• Latin: "pestilentia" (a plague or infectious disease)

Meaning:

• Relating to or bringing about a pestilence
• Causing or characterized by widespread death and disease
• Harmful or detrimental
• Noxious or offensive

Origin:

The word "pestilent" has its origins in the Latin word "pestilentia," which referred to a plague or infectious disease. This Latin term is derived from the verb "pestilere," meaning "to bring about a pestilence" or "to infect."

In the Middle Ages, the term "pestilent" was often used to describe the bubonic plague, which ravaged Europe during the 1340s. The Black Death, as it was known, killed an estimated 25-50% of the European population.

Over time, the meaning of "pestilent" has expanded to include any type of widespread disease or harmful condition. It is now commonly used in a figurative sense to describe anything that is extremely harmful or destructive.

pestilent relate terms

• pest

  Etymology The word pest originates from the Latin word pestis which means plague o

• plaguey

  Etymology From Middle English plagy from Medieval Latin plaga ultimately from Latin p

• deadly

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• pernicious

  Etymology Latin pernicies destruction from per completely and nex death

• cloture

  Etymology French clôture enclosure closure Latin claudere to shut to close

• squirrel

  Etymology and Meaning The word squirrel is derived from the Middle English word squir

• genius

  Etymology The word genius is derived from the Latin word genius which originally re

• seal

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• excelsior

  Etymology The word excelsior comes from Latin specifically from the phrase excelsus

• boast

  Etymology Old English boastan to brag threaten Proto West Germanic bōstijaną