I. ˈplāg noun
Etymology: Middle English plage, from Late Latin plaga, from Latin, blow; akin to Latin plangere to strike — more at plaint
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a disastrous evil or affliction : calamity
b. : a destructively numerous influx
a plague of locusts
2.
a. : an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality : pestilence
b. : a virulent contagious febrile disease that is caused by a bacterium ( Yersinia pestis ) and that occurs in bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic forms — called also black death
3.
a. : a cause of irritation : nuisance
b. : a sudden unwelcome outbreak
a plague of burglaries
II. transitive verb
( plagued ; plagu·ing )
Date: 15th century
1. : to smite, infest, or afflict with or as if with disease, calamity, or natural evil
2.
a. : to cause worry or distress to : hamper , burden
b. : to disturb or annoy persistently
Synonyms: see worry
• plagu·er noun