adj.
Pronunciation: pes- ' ti-f( ə -)r ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin pestifer pestilential, noxious, from pestis + -fer -ferous
Date: 15th century
1 : dangerous to society : PERNICIOUS
2 a : carrying or propagating infection : PESTILENTIAL b : infected with a pestilential disease
3 : TROUBLESOME , ANNOYING
– pes · tif · er · ous · ly adverb
– pes · tif · er · ous · ness noun