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Definition of pestiferous - 5 dictionary results

pes⋅tif⋅er⋅ous

  [pe-stif-er-uhs]
Use pestiferous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. bringing or bearing disease.
2. pestilential.
3. pernicious; evil.
4. Informal. mischievous; troublesome or annoying.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L pestiferus plague-bringing, equiv. to pesti- (s. of pestis) pest + -ferus -ferous

Related forms:
pes⋅tif⋅er⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
pes⋅tif⋅er⋅ous⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pestiferous
pes·tif·er·ous   (pě-stĭf'ər-əs)   
adj.  

    1. Producing or breeding infectious disease.

    2. Infected with or contaminated by an epidemic disease.

  2. Morally evil or deadly; pernicious.

  3. Bothersome; annoying.


[Middle English, from Latin pestiferus, variant of pestifer : pestis, pestilence; see pest + -fer, -fer.]
pes·tif'er·ous·ly adv., pes·tif'er·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pestiferous 
1458, mischievous, pernicious, fig. use of L. pestiferus "that brings plague or destruction," variant of pestifer "bringing plague," from pestis "plague" + ferre "carry" (see infer).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pes·tif·er·ous
Pronunciation: pes-'tif-(&-)r&s
Function: adjective
1 : carrying or propagating infection : PESTILENTIAL pestiferous insect>
2 : infected with a pestilential disease
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

pestiferous pes·tif·er·ous (pě-stĭf'ər-əs)
adj.

  1. Producing or breeding infectious disease.

  2. Infected with or contaminated by an epidemic disease.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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