pestiferous definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms of pestiferous

annoying, bothersome, contagious, diseased, harmful, infectious, noisome, noxious, pernicious, toxic, unhealthy, virulent

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pestiferous

7 dictionary results for: pestiferous

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pes⋅tif⋅er⋅ous

[pe-stif-er-uh

–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

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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

1. Producing or breeding infectious disease.
2. Infected with or contaminated by an epidemic disease.
Morally evil or deadly; pernicious.
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 © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

pestiferous
adjective
1.	contaminated with infecting organisms; "dirty wounds"; "obliged to go into infected rooms"- Jane Austen [syn: dirty]
2.	likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease; "a pestilential malignancy in the air"- Jonathan Swift; "plaguey fevers" [syn: pestilent]
3.	tending to corrupt or pervert [syn: corruptive]
4.	causing irritation or annoyance; "tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork"; "aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport"; "found it galling to have to ask permission"; "an irritating delay"; "nettlesome paperwork"; "a pesky mosquito"; "swarms of pestering gnats"; "a plaguey newfangled safety catch"; "a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him"; "a vexatious child"; "it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong"

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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

Producing or breeding infectious disease.
Infected with or contaminated by an epidemic disease.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pestiferous

Pes*tif"er*ous\, a. [L. pestiferus, pestifer; pestis pest + ferre to bear: cf. F. pestif[`e]re.]

1. Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. "Poor, pestiferous creatures begging alms." --Evelyn. "Unwholesome and pestiferous occupations." --Burke.

2. Noxious to peace, to morals, or to society; vicious; hurtful; destructive; as, a pestiferous demagogue.

Pestiferous reports of men very nobly held. --Shak.

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